tihxavy  of  t^e  theological  ^tmimvy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Mrs.    Sanford   H.    Smith 


^.  ....  ..  ,  ...3  1852 

Clement,  Jesse,  1815- 
Memoir  of  Adoniram  Judson 


Engraved fcy   J.C3-attre. 


(7 


-^^^^yY  r/^O  7^1  -z^/  ^f^Z-'-r^f  ^     /-/  r-^  "^^f:^  O-^KL 


FOURTH    THOUSAND. 


MEMOIR 


ADONIKAM  JUDSON: 


BEING    A   SKETCH    OF 


HIS  LIFE  AND  MISSIONARY  LABORS. 


BY   J.   CLEMENT, 

▲VTHOR  OP   "noble   deeds   OF   AMERICAN   WOMEN." 


'*  Knowest  ihou  the  leader  of  that  train,  who  toil 
The  everlasting  Gospel's  light  to  shed 
On  earth's  benighted  climes?  " 


AUBURN: 
DERBY   AND   MILLER. 

1852. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  (he  year  1851, 

BY  DERBY  &  MILLER, 

In  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for 
the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


\t  jfxlnh  pf  (CjiriBtian  JHiHsinnH, 

AND 

ADMIRERS  OF  MORAL  HEROISM, 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  DEDICATED. 


PREFACE 


The  preparation  of  this  work  was  not  a  self-imposed  task : 
it  was  undertaken  at  the  solicitation  of  the  publishers,  and 
by  the  request  of  parties  to  whom  we  look  for  an  assignment 
of  labors. 

No  one  can  be  more  sensible  than  is  the  writer,  of  his 
unworthiness  to  be  associated,  in  the  relation  of  biogra- 
pher, with  the  good  man,  an  outline  of  whose  missionary- 
toils  is  presented  in  these  pages.  So  much  veneration  is 
attached  to  his  name,  and  such  solemn  grandeur  to  his 
character,  that  it  may  be  deemed  sacrilegious  presumption 
for  an  unpretending  layman  to  endeavor  to  perpetuate  the 
one  or  to  portray  the  other.  Nor  have  we  attempted  either, 
save  as  a  plain  recital  of  his  pioneer  and  persevering  efiforts 
for  the  spiritual  freedom  and  eternal  salvation  of  the  millions 
of  idolatrous  Burmah  may  conduce  to  that  end. 

True,  even  a  meager  sketch  of  his  hfe-work  must  disclose 
most  of  his  noble  traits  of  character;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  contour  of  the  more  prominent  may  be  discernible 


VI  PREFACE. 

in  this  volume.  His  firmnjcss  and  elevation  of  principle, 
expansive  conceptions  of  christian  duty,  simplicity  and  in- 
flexibility of  faith,  and  fervor  and  enthusiasm  of  piety,  are 
apparent  in  the  portions  of  his  journal  and  letters  which  we 
have  inserted;  and  his  practical  judgment,  strong  executive 
capacities,  untiring  patience,  and  profound  philological  and 
other  literary  attainments,  are  exhibited  in  the  nature, 
amount,  and  excellence  of  his  labors,  at  which  this  work 
repeatedly  hints.  If  there  is  any  one  trait  which  is  not 
developed  in  the  following  pages,  it  is  benevolence.  Much 
of  it,  however,  is  implied  in  the  fact,  that  he  gave  thirty- 
eight  years  of  manly  toil  for  the  redemption  of  a  people 
who  robbed  him  under  the  vail  of  taxes  cruelly  levied, 
loaded  him  with  fetters,  cast  him  into  dungeons  and  death- 
prisons,  drove  him  bare-footed  over  burning  sands,  and, 
finally,  to  bar  him  from  the  heart  of  the  empire  and  from 
the  "golden  presence,"  swung  against  his  philanthropic  heart 
the  iron  gates  of  intolerance.  But  he  gave  more  than  his 
days  to  the  cause  of  Missions  —  more  than  his  comforts  a 
martyr  to  persecution:  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars  re- 
ceived for  the  memoir  of  his  second  wife,  and  between  four 
and  five  thousand  dollars  presented  as  a  reward  for  his 
services  as  interpreter  during  the  English  and  Burman  war, 
were  put  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord.  All  he  was,  all 
he  had,  all  he  received,  he  cheerfully  laid  on  the  altar 
of  Missions;  and  while,  by  divine  grace,  he  was  enabled 
to  point  others  to  imperishable  riches,  so  far  as  it  respects 


PREFACE.  VU 

this  world's  goods  he  himself  died  a  poor  man.  The  only 
legacy  he  has  left,  for  an  invalid  widow  and  several  children, 
is  a  great  and  good  name  and  a  precious  memory.  And  it 
may  not  be  improper,  in  this  connection,  to  mention  that, 
with  commendable  generosity,  the  publishers  of  this  work 
have  voluntarily  pledged  themselves,  in  case  profits  should 
accrue  from  its  sale,  to  donate  a  liberal  portion  to  the  sur- 
viving members  of  the  Judson  family.  For  this  reason,  if 
for  no  other,  we  could  wish  the  work  had  higher  merits, 
and  brighter  anticipations  of  public  favor. 

In  order  that  it  might  not  be  deemed  valueless,  we  have 
made  it  as  autobiographical  as  was  consistent  with  our  plan. 
Nearly  half  of  these  pages  are  extracts  from  Mr.  Judson's 
writings,  in  which  he  details,  in  his  modest  yet  highly  at- 
tractive manner,  his  efforts  to  sow  the  seed  of  divine  truth 
beside  the  waters  of  Burmah.  For  his  interesting  narratives 
of  jungle  tours,  adventures  at  the  capital  of  Burmah  Proper, 
and  errands  of  mercy  along  the  shores  of  the  Indian  seas, 
and  across  the  mighty  deep,  we  are  mainly  indebted  to  the 
"  Mssionary  Magazine,"  to  files  of  which,  from  its  com- 
mencement, we  have  had  access.  We  have  drawn  so  largel}^ 
upon  the  rich  fruits  of  his  pen,  that,  should  our  name  be 
used  in  connection  with  the  work,  we  may  with  most  pro- 
priety be  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  compiler.  Essential  aid 
has  been  derived  from  other  pens,  from  those  of  Knowles, 
Gammell,  Choules,  Malcom,  and  others,  to  whom  indebted- 
ness is  acknowledo-ed  elsewhere. 


Vm  PREFACE. 

In  sketchino-  the  life  and  labors  of  Mr.  Judson,  we  have 
incorporated  as  much  missionary  intelligence,  particularly 
wich  reference  to  the  stations  where  he  labored, —  those 
in  Burmali  Proper  and  the  province  of  Maulmain,  —  as 
could  be  compressed  within  our  prescribed  hmits. 

So  far  as  the  work  professes  to  be  historical,  great  pains 
have  been  taken  to  make  it  reliable.  It  is  not  improbable, 
however,  that  an  error,  here  and  there,  may  have  escaped 
notice.  We  have  consulted  no  author  who  is  faultless  in 
in  dates ;  and  if,  in  some  instances,  we  have  been  misled  by 
works  that  are  denominated  standard,  and  have  received 
indiscriminate  and  unqualified  praise,  and  in  others  are 
guilty  of  misleading  by  our  own  carelessness,  we  have  only 
to  ask  of  the  candid  critic,  whose  services  we  covet  rather 
than  deprecate,  that  our  faults  be  pointed  out  in  kindness 
and  christian  love. 

Two  or  three  works,  commemorative  of  the  name  and 
services  of  Mr.  Judson,  have  already  appeared;  and  one  of 
them,  a  lengthy  and  eloquent  discourse  on  his  life  and 
character,  is  of  so  low  a  price,  yet  of  so  high  a  value, 
as  to  bring  it  within  the  reach  of  all,  and  to  ensure  its 
introduction  into  thousands  of  families,  where  a  costly  work 
might  never  gain  access. 

No  volume,  however,  that  has  yet  appeared,  possesses 
sufficient  fullness  to  be  entitled  to  the  name  of  "Life''  of 
Mr.  Judson.  While  this  one  and  its  predecessoi-s,  may 
serve  a  humble  purpose,  in  some  instances,  finding  their 


PREFACE.  Uf 

way  into  hands  where  a  more  expensive  one  would  not, 
and  in  others,  creating  or  sharpening  an  appetite  for  one 
of  naore  ambitious  pretensions,  a  work  of  the  larger  class 
is  demanded,  and,  we  are  happy  to  say,  is  in  a  course 
of  preparation.  The  small  volume  which  we  have  pre- 
pared, can  not  be  regarded  as  its  rival,  but  may  serve  in 
the  humble  capacity  of  a  John  Baptist,  to  herald  a  worthier. 

J.  C. 

Buffalo,  Aug.  7,  1851. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

page 

Mr.  Judsoa's  Birth,  Education,  and  Conversion  —  Desires  to  be- 
come a  Missionary  —  "V^isits  England  —  Appointment  as  a 
Mfssionary — Marriage  and  Embarkation  for  India.      .        .         17 

CHAPTER  II. 

An-ival  of  the  Missionaries  at  Calcutta  —  Their  111  Treatment 
by  the  Bengal  Government  —  Change  of  Religious  Sentiment, 
and  Baptism  of  Messrs.  Judson  and  Rice 27 

CHAPTER  III. 

Embarkation  for  the  Isle  of  France  —  Return  of  Mr.  Rice  to 
America  —  Mr.  Judson  sails  for  Madras  and  thence  for  Ran- 
goon —  Sketch  of  the  English  Mission  at  Rangoon  —  Descrip- 
tion of  the  Place  —  Character  of  the  Burmans  — Their  Religion.    35 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Early  Labors  of  Mr.  Judson  at  Rangoon  —  Missionary  Move- 
ments among  American  Baptists  —  Mr.  Judson's  Literary 
Progress — Death  of  the  First  Born 48 

CHAPTER  Y. 

Mr.  Judson  joined  by  Mr.  Hough  —  Printing  in  the  Burman 
Language — First   Inquirers  after  Truth  —  Mr.  Juason  sails 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

Tag* 
for  Cliittagong  —  Driven  out  of  liis  Course  and  Delayed  — 
Mr.  Hough  goes  to  Bengal — Mr.  Judson  returns  to  Rangoon  — 
Heroic  Conduct  of  Mrs.  Judson.  58 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Appointment  of  Messrs.  Colman  and  Wheelock  —  Erection  of  a 
Zayat  —  Early  Labors  thereat  —  Conversion  and  Baptism  of 
Moung  Nau  —  Death  of  the  King  —  Revision  of  the  First 
Tract  —  Death  of  Mr.  Wheelock 68 

CHAPTER  VII. 

New  Inquirers,  with  a  Description  of  one  of  them  —  More  Bap- 
tisms—  Signs  of  Persecution  —  Mr.  Judson  decides  to  visit 
tho  King. 78 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Messrs.  Judson  and  Colman  embark  for  the  Capital — Voyage 
up  the  Irrawaddy — Introduction  to  the  King  —  His  Rejection 
of  their  Petition  — They  return  to  Rangoon  —  Interview  with 
the  Native  Converts  — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colman  go  to  Chittagong — 
Death  of  Mr.  Colman 86 

CHAPTER  IX. 

More  Conversions  —  Progress  of  the  work  of  translating  the  New 
Testament — Sickness  of  Mrs.  Judson  —  Mr.  Judson  repairs 
with  her  to  Bengal — Tlieir  Return — The  Native  Converts  — 
The  New  Viceroy — Moung  Ing  —  Mrs.  Judson's  111  Health, 
and  Departure  for  America  —  Clouds  —  Their  Dispersion  — 
Arrival  of  Dr.  Price  —  Return  of  Mr.  Hough,       .        .  100 

CHAPTER  X. 

Mr.  Judson  and  Dr.  Price  visit  Ava  —  Favorable  Recej^tion  of  the 
Former — Mr.  Judson's  Interviews  with  Moung  Zah,  with  tlie 
King,  and  Prince  M. —  Mr.  Judson's  Negotiations  for  a  Build- 
ing Lot  —  Sufficiently  gains  the  End  for  which  he  had  visited 
the  Capital,  and  retui'ua  to  Rangoon  —  State  of  the  Mission 
tkere.  •        ...    117 


CONTENTS.  atffl 

CHAPTER  XL 

Pag. 

Mr.  Judson  returns  to  Burmah  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  "Wade  accompany 
Her — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  go  to  Ava  —  Coldness  of  their 
Reception  —  Formal  Removal  of  tlie  Seat  of  Government  from 
Amarapura — War  with  the  Bengal  Government  —  Bombard- 
ment of  Rangoon,  and  Persecution  of  the  Missionaries  there  — 
Messrs.  Hough  and  Wade  go  to  Calcutta,  .        .        .         129 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Movements  at  Ava,  on  the  Fall  of  Rangoon  — Arrest,  Examina- 
tion, and  Discharge  of  Mr.  Judson  and  Dr.  Price  — Their  Con- 
finement and  Sufferings  in  the  Death  Prison  —  Persecution, 
Trials,  and  Heroic  Conduct  of  Mrs.  Judson.  .        .        .    143 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Mr.  Judson  and  other  Prisoners  taken  to  Oung-pen-Ia —  Cause 
of  their  Removal  —  Mrs.  Judson  follows  her  Husband  —  Suf- 
ferings of  the  Judson  Family  —  Progress  of  the  EngUsh 
Army  up  the  Irrawaddy  —  Messrs.  Judson  and  Price  taken 
from  Prison  to  assist  in  Negotiations  for  Peace  —  Sickness  of 
Mrs.  Judson — War  Closes  —  Dr.  Price  remains  at  Ava  —  His 
Death — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  go  to  Rangoon.      .        .        .        163 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Retrospect  of  the  Mission  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  remove  to 
Amherst  —  Mr.  Judson  goes  to  Ava,  in  connection  with  the 
English  Embassy  —  Returns  to  Amherst  —  Death  of  Mrs.  Jud- 
son —  Return  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade,  accompanied  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Boardman  —  Death  of  Mr.  Judson's  Daughter.       .        .    176 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Establishment  of  the  Maulmain  Mission,  by  Mr.  Boardman  — 
Messrs.  Judson  and  Wade  remove  thither  —  Mr.  Boardman  re- 
moves to  Tavoy — His  Death  —  Mr.  Judson  renounces  the 
Title  of  D.  D. — Arrival  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  —  Messrs. 
Judson  and  Wade  visit  Rangoon  — Mr.  Judson  proceeds  to 
rrome—His  Return  to  Rangoon.      .  ,       .       ',       188 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Page. 
Labors  of  Mr.  Judson  at  Rangoon  —  Removal  to  Manlmain  — 
Arrival  of  Messrs.  Mason,  Kincaid,  and  Jones  —  Mr.  Judson 
travels  in  the  Jungle,  and  establishes  the  Christian  Communi- 
ties of  Wadesville,  Newville,  and  Chummerah — Another  Tour 
among  the  Karens. 205 

CHAPTER  XVII 

Arrival  of  Mr.  Cutter  —  Messrs.  Kincaid  and  Cutter  visit  Ava  — 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  sail  for  the  United  States — Arrival  of 
Messrs.  Brown  and  Webb,  and  Miss  Harrington  —  Mr.  Judson 
completes  the  Translation  of  the  Bible  —  Marries  Mrs.  Board- 
man —  Return  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  with  Messre.  Howard, 
Vinton,  Comstock,  Dean,  and  Osgood,  and  Miss  Gardner  — 
Mr.  Judson's  Labors  —  Mr.  Malcom's  Visit — Growth  of  the 
Churches 218 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Retrospect  of  Mr.  Judson's  Career — Review  of  the  Progress  of 
Baptist  Missions  —  Illness  of  Mr.  Judson,  Voyage  to  Calcutta 
and  Return  —  Maulmain  Theological  Seminary,  and  other 
Schools  —  Revised  Edition  of  the  Burman  Bible  —  Rangoon 
abandoned  by  the  Missionaries — The  Judson  Family  visit 
Calcutta  and  Serampore  —  Loss  of  a  Member  — The  Survivors 
proceed  to  the  Isle  France  —  Return  to  Maulmain.      .        .        231 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Mr.  Judson  commences  a  Burman  Dictionary —  Labors  of  his  As- 
sociates—  Condition  of  the  Maulmain  Mission  Churches  — 
Printing  —  Manlmain  Missionary  Society — Arrival  of  Messrs. 
Binney  and  Bullard  —  Baptismal  Scene,  &c. —  Illness  of  Mrs. 
Judson  —  Mr.  Judson  decides  to  visit  America.  .        .        244 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Embarkation  of  the  Judson  Family  for  the  United  States — 
Hopes  and  Fears,  and  Changes  of  Plans  at  the  Isle  of  France— 


CONTENTS.  XV 

rage. 

Voyage  continued  —  Mrs.  Judson's  last  Hours  —  Her  Death 
and  Burial  at  St.  Helena  —  Mr.  Judson  arrives  in  Boston  — 
His  Reception  there  —  Dr.  Sharp's  Address — An  Incident.       256 

CHAPTER  XXL 

Mr.  Judson  at  the  Meeting  of  the  Convention  in  1845  —  Dr. 
Wayland's  Address  to  him  —  Interesting  Scene  in  tl/O  Con- 
rentiou  —  Mr.  Judson's  Reception  at  Richmond — Address  of 
J.  B.  Jeter  —  Mr.  Judson's  Private  Character  —  He  marries 
Miss  Chubbuck  —  Farewell  Services  in  Boston  —  Mr.  Judson's 
Address 273 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  embark  for  Burmah  —  Messrs.  Beecher  and 
Harris,  and  Miss  Lillybridge  accompany  them  —  Changes  at 
Maulmain — Growth  of  the  Churches  there  —  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Judson  repair  to  Rangoon  —  State  of  Civil  and  Religious  Mat- 
ters in  Burmah  Proper  —  Return  to  Maulmain — Arrival  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moore  —  Newton  and  Maulmain  Stations.    .        .        294 

CHAPTER  XXIli. 

Christian  Reciprocity  —  Mr.  Judson  proposes  to  visit  Ava  — 
Temporary  Abandonment  of  the  Project  —  Failure  of  Mr. 
Abbott  to  re-enter  Burmah  Proper  —  Messrs.  Kincaid  and 
Daweon  appointed  to  the  Ava  Mission  —  Latest  Intelligence 
from  them — The  Burman  Dictionary 309 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Mr.  Judson's  last  Illness  —  Fruitless  Efforts  for  his  Restoration  — 
Beautiful  Decline  of  a  Life  of  Faith  —  Mr.  Judson  embarks  for 
the  Isle  of  Bourbon  —  Mr.  Ranney  accompanies  him  —  Last 
Moments  of  Mr.  Judson  —  His  Death  and  Burial.       .        .        321 


OUTLIl^E 

OF    THE 

LIFE  AND  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

OP 

REV.  ADONIRAM  JUDSON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Mr.  Jiidson's  Birth,  Education,  and  Conversion  —  Desires  to  become  a  Mis 
sionary— Visits  England — Appointment  as  a  Missionary  —  Marriage  and  En- 
barkation  for  India. 

Adonieam  Judson  was   the  son  of  a  Congrega  J 
'  tional  clergyman,  and  was  born  in  Maiden,  Massa- 
chusetts, on  the  9th  of  Angnst,  1788.     His  father 
early  and  anxiously  strove  to  imbue  his  mind  with 
the  principles  of  the  divine  word,  and  to  develop 
his   moral  sensibilities;    but,  as   is   frequently   the\ 
case,  the  seed  seasonably  sown  did  not  take  root] 
immediately,  nor  show  any  promise  for  years.     The 
son  fitted  for  college  in  an  impenitent  state,  and 
graduated  at  Brown  University,  in  1807,  a  deist  in 
sentiment,  and  with  the  prospect  that  his  talents 
and  learning  would  be  of  no  service  to  the  world. 
But  He,  who  sees  the  end  from  the  beginning,  and 
brings  wondrous   things   to  pass,  had  marked  out 
for  our  young  graduate  a  path  which  led  through 

3 


18  THE  MISSIONARY   LABOKS 

the  valley  of  humiliation,  across  fields  of  highest 
usefulness,  and  over  the  hill- tops  of  the  morally 
sublime. 

Soon  after  leaving  college,  he  commenced  a  tour 
designed  to  embrace  the  United  States,  but  had 
hardly  entered  upon  it,  before  some  providential 
occurrence  shattered  his  skeptical  sentiments,  and 
led  him  to  examine  the  evidences  of  the  inspiration 
of  Scripture.  Restless  and  unhappy;  losing  all 
relish  for  traveling;  sick  of  the  vanities  of  the 
world,  and  tired  of  feeding  his  famishing  spirit  on 
the  husks  of  unbelief  and  sin,  he  returned  to  his 
father's  house,  and  soon  raised  the  important  in- 
quiry, "  "What  must  I  do  to  be^  saved  ?" 

A  short  time  before  this  date,  the  theological 
seminary  at  Andover,  in  his  native  state,  had  been 
opened ;  and  he  now  became  anxious  to  avail  him- 
self of  its  superior  advantages  for  the  investigation 
of  religious  truth.  According  to  its  rules,  no  one 
could  be  admitted  without  evidence  of  piety;  but, 
notwithstanding  this  embarrassing  circumstance,  he 
was  so  eager  to  obtain  religious  instruction,  that, 
without  attempting  to  conceal  his  moral  unfitness, 
he  presented  himself  for  membership.  It  was  a 
singular  request,  and  might,  under  some  circum- 
stances, have  received  the  prompt  refusal  of  the 
faculty;  but,  in  this  instance,  they  wisely  decided 
to  so  far  deviate  from  their  regulations,  as  to  allow 
him  to  remain  and  receive  instruction,  though  he 
was  not,  at  first,  enrolled  among  the  theological 
students.    In  two  or  three  months  he  became  the 


OF   ADOXIRAM   JUDSON".  19 

subject  of  renewing  grace,  and  tliere  was  no  longer 
any  doubt  about  the  ]3roprietj  of  considering  him  a 
regular  member  of  the  institution. 

With  his  pride  measurably  subdued,  and  his  am- 
bition sanctitied,  he  was  now  prepared  to  live  for 
some  high  purpose.  Feeling  the  power  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  anxious  that  the  world  might  reap  its 
benefits,  he  applied  himself,  with  the  utmost  dili 
gence,  to  fit  himself  for  the  ministry. 

AYhile  engaged  in  his  theological  studies,  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan's sermon,  entitled  "  The  _Star  in  the  East," 
fell  into  his  hands,  and  its  perusal  kindled  all  the 
fire  of  his  soul  into  a  living  and  quenchless  flame, 
and  gave  his  thoughts  a  new  direction.  The  scope 
of  his  christian  sympathies  became  enlarged;  the 
tone  of  his  prayers  was  changed,  and  their  subjects 
multiplied ;  and  he  hinted  to  some  of  his  intimate 
friends,  that  it  was,  perhaps,  his  duty  to  engage 
in  missionary  labor.  There  was  then  no  society 
in  this  country  to  which  he  coidd  look  for  support, 
and  the  persons  to  whom  he  communicated  his 
impressions,  gave  him  but  little  encouragement;  he 
therefore  wrote  to  the  directors  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society,  stating  his  feelings  on  the  subject 
of  missions,  and  asking  for  advice  and  information. 
His  letter  elicited  an  encom-aging  reply,  and  he  was 
invited  to  visit  England,  and  receive  personally  the 
information  desired. 

About  this  time,  several  of  iiis  fellow  students 
also  had  their  attention  called  to  the  subject  of 
missions,  and  some  of  them  resolved  to  embark  in 


20  THE   MISSIONARY   LAB0K3 

the  enterprise  as  soon  as  a  way  could  be  provided. 
They  were  all  Congregationalists ;  and  were  desirous 
that  their  christian  brethren  should  know  their  feel- 
ings and  impressions  of  duty:  accordingly,  when 
the  Massachusetts  association  of  ministers  of  that 
denomination  met  at  Bradford,  in  June,  1810,  the 
following  document,  prepared  by  Mr.  Judson,  and 
signed  by  himself,  Samuel  Nott,  Samuel  J.  Mills, 
and  Samuel  Newell,  was  presented : 

"  The  undersigned,  members  of  the  divinity  col- 
lege, respectfully  request  the  attention  of  their  rev- 
erend fathers,  convened  in  the  general  association  at 
Bradford,  to  the  following  statement  and  inquiries : 

"  They  beg  leave  to  state,  that  their  minds  have 
been  long  impressed  with  the  duty  and  importance 
of  personally  attempting  a  mission  to  the  heathen; 
that  the  impressions  on  their  minds  have  induced 
a  serious  and,  they  trust,  a  prayerftd  consideration 
of  the  subject  in  its  various  attitudes,  particularly  in 
relation  to  the  probable  success,  and  the  difficulties 
attending  such  an  attempt ;  and  that,  after  examin- 
ing all  the  information  which  they  can  obtain,  they 
consider  themselves  as  devoted  to  this  work  for  life, 
whenever  God,  in  his  providence,  shall  open  the  way. 

"  They  now  offer  the  following  inquiries,  on  which 
they  solicit  the  opinion  and  advice  of  this  associa- 
tion: Whether,  with  their  present  views  and  feel- 
ings, they  ought  to  renounce  the  object  of  missions 
as  visionary  or  impracticable;  if  not,  whether  they 
ought  to  direct  their  attention  to  the  eastern  or  the 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  SI 

western  world ;  whether  they  may  expect  patronage 
and  support  from  a  missionary  society  in  this  coun- 
try, or  must  commit  themselves  to  the  direction  of  a 
European  society;  and  what  preparatory  measures 
they  ought  to  take  previous  to  actual  engagement? 
"The  undersigned,  feeling  their  youth  and  inexpe- 
rience, look  up  to  their  fathers  in  the  church,  and  re- 
spectfully solicit  their  advice,  direction,  and  prayers." 

This  paper  was  referred  to  a  special  committee, 
who,  after  much  deliberation  and  prayer,  reported, 
in  substance.  That  the  object  of  missions  is  one  of 
the  utmost  importance ;  that  the  command,  "  Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature,"  is  sacred  and  binding ;  and  that  the  pecu- 
liar and  strong  convictions  by  which  the  memorial- 
ists were  influenced,  should  probably  be  regarded 
as  a  divine  intimation  in  respect  to  the  duty  of 
American  christians  in  the  work  of  spreading  the  / 
truth.  It  was  voted  "  That  there  be  instituted,  by  this  j 
general  association,  a  Board  of  Commissioners  for  i 
Foreign  Missions,  for  the  pm^pose  of  devising  ways 
and  means,  and  adopting  and  prosecuting  measures 
for  promoting  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in  heathen 
lands."  Such  was  the  origin  of  an  organization 
which  soon  rallied  to  its  support  the  concentrated 
forces  of  the  Congregationalists  and  Presbyterians 
throughout  the  United  States ;  and  which  had,  in  a 
few  years,  established  its  missions  at  Bombay,  Cey- 
lon, Siam,  on  the  MediteiTanean,  in  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  and  among  several  tribes  of  Indians,  and 


23  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

identified  itself  with  many  of  the  noblest  triumphs 
of  truth  in  modern  times. 

Anxious  to  be  engaged  in  the  work  for  which 
their  hearts  yearned,  Mr.  Judson  and  his  compan- 
ions desired  a  prompt  official  assignment  of  their 
stations;  but  no  plan  of  operation  being  matured, 
and  no  funds  raised,  the  Board  advised  them  to 
continue  their  connection  with  the  institution,  and 
to  wait  patiently  until  Providence  should  open  the 
way  for  their  departure. 

The  missionary  spirit  had  then  warmed  but  few 
hearts  in  America,  and  Mr.  Judson  feared  that,  if  he 
depended  for  su2)port  on  the  churches  at  home,  he 
might  not  be  appointed  for  years ;  he  therefore,  by 
permission  of  the  Board,  sailed  for  England  in  Jan- 
uary, 1811,  with  instructions  to  ascertain  whether 
the  London  Society  would  cooj)erate  with  the  Amer- 
ican Board,  and  whether  the  former  would  render 
any  aid,  should  the  latter  need  it,  in  order  to  sustain 
a  mission.  The  vessel  in  which  he  embarked,  was 
captured  by  a  French  privateer,  about  twenty  days 
after  sailing,  and  he  was  detained  several  weeks  on 
board.  He  was  then  taken  to  Bayonne,  and  thrown 
into  prison.  Through  the  intercession  of  some  of 
his  own  countrymen,  he  was,  ere  long,  released  on 
parol,  and  after  some  delay  and  great  exertions,  the 
emperor  was  induced  to  grant  him  a  passport.  He 
had  been  so  long  delayed  that  he  did  not  reach 
England  until  May  —  four  months  after  sailing. 

His  mission  to  London  was  not  wholly  unsuccess- 
ful, though  he  was  unable  to  secure  a  concert  of 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  23 

measures  between  the  two  missionary  associations. 
The  London  body  doubtless  thought  that  American 
christians  should  support  missionaries  of  their  own, 
nor  had  they  much  faith  in  the  successful  working 
of  a  jurisdiction  divided  by  an  ocean  three  thousand 
miles  wide.  The  directors  of  the  foreign  society, 
however,  promised  full  support  to  Mr.  Judson  and 
his  associates,  in  case  of  failure  to  do  as  much  on 
the  part  of  the  American  Board.  Leaving  the  mat- 
ter in  this  indefinite  state,  Mr.  Judson  returned. 

A  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  was 
held  at  AVorcester,  Mass.,  in  September  following,, 
and  Mr.  Judson  and  one  of  his  associates  attended, 
and  expressed  a  desire  to  be  appointed,  if  the  Board 
thought  proper,  without  delay.  They  also  stated, 
that  if  the  Board  did  not  feel  warranted  in  promis- 
ing them  support,  they  would,  if  no  serious  objections 
were  made,  put  themselves  under  the  patronage  of 
the  foreign  society.  The  prospect  of  a  war  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  seemed  to  ren- 
der it  necessary  that  the  course  to  be  adopted  should 
be  decided  upon  at  once.  The  American  Board  had 
been  organized  but  three  months;  its  funds  were 
scanty;  and  what  dependence  could  be  ]3laced  on 
the  liberality  of  the  churches,  was  then  unknown ; 
nevertheless,  trusting  in  God  to  fui'ther  their  efforts, 
the  Board  nobly  decided  to  establish  a  mission  in 
Burmah.  This  decision  made,  the  proffered  services 
of  the  young  students  were  needed  ;  and  Messrs. 
Judson,  Newell,  Is'ott,  and  Gordon  Hall,  were  forth- 
with appointed.      Three  others,  among  whom  was 


24:  THE    MISSIONARY  LABORS 

Luther  Rice,  were  soon  afterward  set  apart  to  the 
same  work. 

When  at  Bradford,  in  the  year  1810,  Mr.  Judson 
became  acquainted  with  Miss  Ann  Ilasseltine,  a 
native  of  that  town,  and  the  daughter  of  Mr.  John 
Hasseltine.  She  was  then  in  the  twenty-first  year 
of  her  age;  had  been  educated  at  the  celebrated 
academy  located  there;  and  possessing  a  polished, 
active,  clear,  and  strong  mind,  ardent  piety,  and  a 
prepossessing  person,  she  made  a  deep  and  abiding 
impression  on  his  heart.  Their  acquaintance  was 
soon  afterward  renewed,  and  ere  long  Mr.  Judson 
offered  her  his  hand,  accompanied  by  the  proposi- 
tion for  her  to  forsake  not  only  her  parents,  birth- 
place, and  friends,  but  native  land  also :  hence,  to 
accept  his  offer  required  no  ordinary  decision  of 
character.  She  examined  the  subject  in  all  its  bear- 
ings, and  after  much  prayer,  with  few  earthly  friends 
to  encourage  her,  she  decided,  from  conviction  of 
duty  which  she  could  not  resist,  that,  with  her  pa- 
rents' consent,  she  would  encounter  the  hardships 
and  dangers  attendant  uj^on  an  unbroken  missionary 
path. 

In  compliance  with  a  hint  from  Miss  Ilasseltine, 
Mr.  Judson  wrote  to  her  father  asking  his  consent 
to  the  proposed  union.  The  following  extract  shows 
the  candor  and  frankness  of  Mr.  Judson;  his  devo- 
tion of  purpose,  and  sense  of  the  sacrifice  a  parent 
must  make  in  giving  up  a  daughter  under  such  pe- 
culiar circumstances : 


OF   ADONIRA]M   JUDSON.  25 

"  I  have  now  to  ask,  whether  yon  can  consent  to 
part  with  your  daughter  early  next  spring,  to  see  her 
no  more  in  this  workl ;  whether  yon  can  consent  to 
her  departm-e  for  a  heathen  land,  and  her  subjection 
to  the  hardships  and  sufferings  of  a  missionary  life? 
whether  you  can  consent  to  her  exposure  to  the  dan- 
gers of  the  ocean ;  to  the  fatal  influence  of  the  Si3uth- 
ern  climate  of  India;  to  every  kind  of  want  and 
distress ;  to  degradation,  insult,  persecution,  and  per- 
haps a  violent  death?  Can  you  consent  to  all  this, 
for  the  sake  of  Him  who  left  his  heavenly  home,  and 
died  for  her  and  for  you  —  for  the  sake  of  perishing 
immortal  souls  —  for  the  sake  of  Zion,  and  the  glory 
of  God?  Can  you  consent  to  all  this,  in  hope  of  soon 
meeting  your  daughter  in  the  world  of  glory  with  a 
crown  of  righteousness,  brightened  by  the  acclama- 
tions of  praise  which  shall  redound  to  her  Saviour 
from  heathens  saved,  through  her  means,  from  eter- 
nal woe  and  despair  ? " 

The  parent  thus  honorably  addressed,  obeyed  the 
voice  of  duty  at  the  sacrifice  of  feeling,  and  gave  his 
daughter  to  the  cause  of  missions,  for  the  sake  of  the 
first  great  Missionary,  who  had  freely  given  his  life 
a  ransom  for  many.  Mr.  Hasseltine's  was  the  first 
offering  of  the  kind  in  America ;  it  was  made  under 
the  most  trying  circumstances,  and  shows,  that  love 
for  Christ  can  loosen  the  coils  of  selfishness,  and  that 
faith  can  relinquish  the  brightest  jewels  of  the  heart. 

The  marriage  took  place  at  Bradford,  on  the 
6th  of  February,  1812.     On  the  16th,  Mr.  Judson, 


26  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

together  with  Messrs.  Newell,  ISTott,  Eice,  and  Hall, 
was  ordained  as  a  foreign  missionary,  at  Salem.  It 
was  the  first  ceremony  of  the  kind  ever  performed 
by  American  Protestants.  From  its  novelty  and 
importance  it  was  fraught  with  peculiar  interest, 
and  an  unusual  degree  of  excitement.  Drs.  Griffin, 
"Woods,  Morse,  Worcester,  and  Spring,  conducted  the 
exercises. 

On  the  19th  of  the  same  month,  Messrs.  Judson 
and  ISTewell,  with  their  wives,  sailed  from  Salem,  in 
the  Caravan,  for  Calcutta.  The  enterprise  in  which 
they  that  day  embarked  was  in  its  infancy  in  this 
land ;  only  here  and  there  a  christian  had  faith  in  its 
expediency  or  success ;  and,  hence,  when  our  young 
missionary  adventurers  went  down  to  the  shij),  but 
few  persons  accompanied  them.  With  scarcely  a 
parting  hand  to  take  at  the  vessel's  side ;  without  a 
formal  christian  benediction  to  comfort  them,  or  an 
inspiring  anthem  to  drown  the  chilling  roar  of  the 
wintry  surge,  and  carry  their  souls  on  buoyant  wings 
to  heaven,  they  weighed  anchor,  floated  out  of  the 
harbor,  and,  as  they  supposed,  lost  sight  forever  of 
their  native  land. 

On  the  Sttth  of  the  same  month,  Messrs.  !N"ott  and 
Hall,  with  their  wives,  and  Mr.  Rice,  sailed  from 
Philadelphia,  in  the  ship  Harmony,  all  bound  for 
Calcutta.  Thence,  if  practicable,  they  were  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  Burman  empire ;  otherwise  they  were  to 
seek  such  unoccupied  field  in  India  as  seemed  the 
most  inviting. 


CHAPTEE    II. 


Arrival  of  the  Missionaries  at  Calcutta — Their  III  Treatment  hy  the  Bensral 
Government— Change  of  Religious  Sentiment,  and  Baptism  of  Messrs.  Jud- 
eon  and  Rice. 

The  first  American  heralds  of  the  gospel  to  the 
heathen  were  now  afloat  upon  the  traclvless  deep, 
bearing  toward  their  field  of  contemplated  labor; 
and  it  was  an  important  epoch  in  the  history  of 
onr  churches.  The  question,  What  will  be  the  result 
of  this  movement  ?  must  have  occupied  many  minds, 
and  received  answers  corresponding  to  the  degree 
of  faith  animating  the  souls  of  the  self-questioners. 
Some,  doubtless,  saw,  in  imagination,  the  wreck  of 
the  Caravan,  the  loss  of  its  precious  freight,  and  the 
termination  of  the  enterprise ;  others,  perhaps,  beheld 
these  adventurous  pioneers  w^ilting  beneath  a  tropic 
sun  on  a  foreign  shore,  or  perishing  at  the  hands 
of  the  ungrateful  and  benighted  people  to  whom 
they  had  been  commissioned  to  carry  the  message 
of  salvation;  and  a  few  had  hopes  —  though  proba- 
bly not  the  strongest  —  that  a  mission  might  be  es- 
tablished which  would  be  permanent,  powerful,  and 


28  THE   MISSIONAKY   LABOES 

ramifying.  But  who,  among  the  most  sanguine 
friends  of  the  great  enterprise,  had  even  the  faintest 
conception  of  its  importance,  the  magnanimity  in 
reserve  for  it,  and  the  glory  with  which  He,  who 
was  its  author,  and  is  still  its  head,  had  resolved  to 
crown  it. 

God  had  a  noble  part  for  Mr.  Judson  to  perform, 
and  he  and  his  associates  were  borne  across  three 
oceans  with  unusual  rapidity,  and  permitted  to  land 
in  safety  at  Calcutta,  on  the  18th  of  June,  1812.  Dr. 
Carey,  of  the  English  Baptist  Mission,  which  was 
established  in  Bengal  in  1793,  greeted  them  with 
christian  cordiality,  welcomed  them  to  the  country, 
and  gave  them  an  invitation,  too  pressing  and  op- 
portune to  be  refused,  to  join  the  mission  family  at 
Serampore,  until  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Rice  and  his 
companions,  who  had  sailed  five  days  after  the 
Caravan. 

Serampore  is  fifteen  miles  above  Calcutta,  and 
thither  the  missionaries  repaired  the  day  after  their 
arrival. 

They  had  shared  the  hospitalities  of  Messrs.  Ca- 
rey, "Ward,  and  Marshman's  pleasant  families,  about 
ten  days,  when  Messrs.  Judson  and  Newell  were 
summoned  to  the  government  house,  and  ordered 
to  return  to  the  United  States  with  their  wives,  in 
the  ship  which  brought  them  out;  otherwise  she 
could  not  receive  a  clearance.  The  authority  of  the 
British  East  India  Company,  which  had  jurisdic- 
tion over  that  part  of  the  country,  was  peremptory ; 
and  there  being  no  hope  that  the  order  would  be 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  l9 

remanded,  the  missionaries  concluded  to  ren  e  to 
some  part  of  India  beyond  their  control.* 

As  the  missionaries  had  been  directed  ')y  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  to  establish,  if  pc  sible,  a 
mission  somewhere  in  the  Burman  emp  e,  they 
wished  to  comply  with  this  instruction ;  \  t  the  un- 
settled state  of  things  between  that  govei  tnent  and 
the  English,  seemed  to  render  the  atte  pt  at  that 
time  impracticable.  A  vessel,  bound  fo  /he  Isle  of 
France,  was  about  to  sail ;  and  obtaining  »ermission 
to  leave  on  her,  Messrs.  Judson  and  ]S'e>vell  souglit 
a  passage.  Her  accommodations  were  such,  how- 
ever, that  berths  could  be  procured  for  only  two 
persons ;  and  it  was  decided  that  Mr.  Jewell  and 
lady  should  embark.  Mr.  Judson  could  find  no 
other  passage  readily ;  and  in  about  six  weeks  after 
their  first  landing  in  Calcutta,  he  and  his  wife  were 
joined  by  the  company  that  sailed  in  the  Harmony. 

During  the  voyage  to  India,  it  occurred  to  Mr. 
Judson,  that  he  should  there  meet  the  English  Bap- 
tist missionaries,  and,  perhaps,  have  occasion  to  dis- 
cuss the  question  of  baptism ;  accordingly,  while 
engaged  in  translating  the  Scriptures,  he  examined 
this  point  very  critically,  and  before  the  voyage  was 
ended  he  had  nearly  decided  that  immersion  was 

*  Without  canvassing  the  motives  by  which  the  East  India  com- 
pany were  actuated  in  their  treatment  of  these  missionaries,  it  is 
enough  to  say,  that  when,  in  1813,  their  charter  was  renewed,  it  was 
60  amended,  through  the  influence  of  Wilberforce,  Fuller,  and  other 
christian  philanthropists,  as  to  countenance  missionary  effort  by 
whomsoever  made. 


30  THE   MISSIONARY    LABORS 

the  primitive  and  only  legitimate  mode.  In  this 
opinion  he  was  fully  confirmed  after  a  few  weeks' 
examination  of  the  subject,  while  waiting  on  foreign 
and  forbidden  grounds  for  an  opportunity  to  depart. 
He  announced  his  change  of  sentiments  to  the  mis- 
sionaries at  Serampore,  in  the  following  letter : 

TO   MESSRS.  CAREY,  MARSHMAN,  AND   WARD. 

Calcutta,  August  27,  1812. 

As  you  have  been  ignorant  of  the  late  exercises 
of  my  mind  on  the  subject  of  baptism,  the  commu- 
nication which  I  am  about  to  make,  may  occasion 
you  some  surprise. 

It  is  now  about  four  months,  since  I  took  the  sub- 
ject into  serious  and  prayerful  consideration.  My 
inquiries  commenced  during  my  passage  from  Amer- 
ica, and  after  much  laborious  research  and  painful 
trial,  which  I  shall  not  now  detail,  have  issued  in 
entire  conviction,  that  the  immersion  of  a  professing 
believer  is  the  only  christian  baptism. 

In  these  exercises  I  have  not  been  alone.  Mrs. 
Judson  has  been  engaged  in  a  similar  examination, 
and  has  come  to  the  same  conclusion.  Feeling, 
therefore,  that  we  are  in  an  unbaptized  state,  we 
wish  to  profess  our  faith  in  Christ  by  being  baptized 
in  obedience  to  his  sacred  commands. 

Adoniram  Jtjdson,  Jr. 

Four  days  afterward  he  sent  a  copy  of  the  above 
letter  to  Rev.  Thomas  Baldwin,  of  Boston,  accom- 
panying it  with  the  following  note : 


OF   ADONIEAM   JTJDSON.  31 

"  I  write  YOU  a  line,  to  express  mj  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments to  you,  for  the  advantage  I  have 
derived  from  your  publications  on  baptism ;  particu- 
larly from  your  '  Series  of  Letters ; '  also  to  introduce 
the  following  copy  of  a  letter,  which  I  forwarded 
last  week  to  the  Baptist  missionaries  at  Serampore, 
and  which  you  are  at  liberty  to  use  as  you  think 
best." 

Having  become  a  Baptist,  Mr.  Judson  could  not 
expect  the  continued  support  of  the  Commissioners 
in  America,  should  Providence  see  fit  to  open  a  field 
of  labor  for  him  in  the  East;  accordingly  he  ad- 
di-essed  a  letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Worcester,  in  which  he 
says: 

"  Mj  change  of  sentiments  on  the  subject  of  bap- 
tism, is  considered  by  my  missionary  brethren,  as 
incompatible  with  my  continuing  their  fellow-laborer 
in  the  mission  which  they  contemplate  on  the  island 
of  Madagascar;  —  and  it  will,  I  presume,  be  con- 
sidered by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  as  equally 
incompatible  with  my  continuing  their  missionary. 
The  Board  will,  undoubtedly,  feel  as  unwilling  to 
support  a  Baptist  missionary,  as  I  feel  to  comply 
with  their  instructions,  which  particularly  direct  us  to 
baptize  '  credible  believers,  with  their  households.'  " 

The  remainder  of  the  letter,  which  is  expressive 
of  Mr.  Judson's  feelings  on  being  obliged  to  dissolve 
his  connection  with  the  Board,  is  as  follows : 


32  THE   MISSIONAET   LABORS 

"  The  dissolution  of  mj  connection  with  the  Board 
of  Commissioners,  and  a  separation  from  my  dear 
missionary  brethren,  I  consider  most  distressing  con- 
sequences of  my  late  change  of  sentiments ;  and  in- 
deed, the  most  distressing  events  which  have  ever 
befallen  me.  I  have  now  the  prospect  before  me 
of  going  alone  to  some  distant  island,  unconnected 
with  any  society  at  present  existing,  from  which  I 
might  be  furnished  with  assistant  laborers  or  pecu- 
niary support.  Whether  the  Baptist  chm-ches  in 
America  will  compassionate  my  situation,  I  know 
not.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  while  my  friends  con- 
demn what  they  deem  a  departure  from  the  truth, 
they  will  at  least  pity  me,  and  pray  for  me." 

This  letter  was  written  at  Calcutta,  the  first  day 
of  September,  1812.  At  the  same  date  Mr.  Judson 
addressed  one  to  Eev.  Lucius  BoUes,  of  Salem,  in 
which  he  says : 

"  Within  a  few  months  I  have  experienced  an  en- 
tire change  of  sentiments  on  the  subject  of  baptism. 
My  doubts  concerning  the  correctness  of  my  former 
system  of  belief,  commenced  during  my  passage  from 
America  to  this  country;  and  after  many  painful 
trials,  which  none  can  know,  but  those  who  are  taught 
to  relinquish  a  system  in  which  they  had  been  edu- 
cated, I  settled  down  in  the  full  persuasion,  that  the 
immersion  of  a  professing  believer  in  Christ  is  the 
only  christian  baptism. 


OF  ADONIRAM   JFDSON.  33 

"  Mrs.  Jiidson  is  united  with  me  in  tliis  persua- 
sion. We  have  signified  om*  views  and  wishes  to 
the  Baptist  missionaries  at  Serampore,  and  expect 
to  be  baptized  in  this  city  next  Lord's  day. 

''  A  separation  from  my  missionary  brethren,  and 
a  dissolution  of  my  connection  with  the  Board  of 
Commissioners,  seem  to  be  necessary  consequences. 
The  missionaries  at  Serampore  are  exerting  them- 
selves to  the  utmost  of  their  ability,  in  managing  and 
supporting  their  extensive  and  complicated  mission. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  I  look  to  you.  Alone, 
in  this  foreign,  heathen  land,  I  make  my  appeal  to 
those,  whom,  with  their  permission,  I  will  call  my 
Baptist  hrethreii  in  the  United  States." 

Eev.  Samuel  I^ott,  one  of  the  brethren  who  thought 
it  not  advisable  for  Mr.  Judson  to  accompany  them 
to  Madagascar,  bears  the  following  testimony  to 
the  honesty  of  his  motives  in  \3ec0ming  a  Baptist : 
"  From  the  time  of  my  arrival  m  Calcutta,  I  knew 
intimately  the  labor  of  his  mind ;  and  I  declare  my 
full  conviction,  that  he  gave  the  subject  the  most 
thorough  and  serious  examination,  studying  care- 
fully the  Scriptures,  and  all  the  authors  he  could 
find  on  the  subject;  that  he  studied  it  religiously; 
and  that,  in  all  his  conversation  upon  it,  he  seemed 
under  a  solemn  and  deep  religious  impression.  In- 
deed he  manifested  a  real  enthusiasm  upon  it.  It 
occupied  his  whole  mind.  Should  I  blame  him 
at  aU,  it  would  not  be  for  sinister  motives  and 
insincere  professions,  but  for  suffering  his  mind  to 

3 


34  MISSIONAKY  LABOKS 

lose,  in  some  measure^  the  calmness  and  coolness 
desirable  in  the  consideration  of  argument.  But, 
be  that  as  it  may,  if  I  ever  beheld  evidence  of  piety 
in  any  man,  I  beheld  it  then  in  him." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  were  baptized  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Ward,  on  the  sixth  of  the  month.  Mr.  Rice  also 
met  with  a  similar  change  of  views,  and  was  bap- 
tized on  the  first  of  November  following. 

A  short  time  after  this  change  of  views,  Mr.  Jud- 
son delivered  a  discourse,  embodying  the  strong 
arguments  in  favor  of  believers'  baptism  and  im- 
mersion as  the  only  proper  mode.  This  discourse 
was  immediately  printed  by  the  English  Baptists  at 
Serampore,  and  Dr.  Carey  pronounced  it  one  of  the 
best  on  the  subject  he  had  ever  heard.  Several 
editions  have  been  printed  in  this  country. 


CHAPTEE   III. 


Embarirstion  for  the  TsTe  of  France  —  Return  of  Mr.  Rice  to  America  — Mr.  JaJ* 
pon  saJJs  for  Madyas  and  thence  for  Rangoon  —  Sketch  of  the  English  Mission 
at  Rangoon  —  DeseTiption  of  ibe  Place  —  Chajractcr  of  the  Burmans  — Their 
Religion. 

We  now  behold  Mr.  Judson  in  a  traly  perplexing 
condition.  Severed  from  the  Board  of  Commission- 
ers, and  ignorant  of  what  he  should  receive  at  the 
hands  of  American  Baptists,  he  was  ordered  out  of 
the  countiy,  and  knew  not  whither  to  flee.  In  this 
trying  state  he  stood,  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to 
sail  for  Java,  Persia,  South  America,  or  any  other 
part  of  the  world  where  he  could  be  useful  in  the 
service  of  his  Master,  when  the  Bengal  government 
issued  an  order  requiring  the  missionaries  to  embark 
in  one  of  the  East  India  Company's  ships,  then  just 
Teady  to  sail  for  England.  Messrs.  Judson  and  Kice 
"were  accompanied  to  their  abode  by  an  officer,  who 
impudently  ordered  them  to  remain  within  doors, 
lantil  permitted  to  do  otherwise.  Their  names  were 
printed  in  the  list  of  passengers,  but  they  were  de- 
termined not  to  go  to  England.  Learning  that  a 
ship,  called  the  Creole,  would  sail  in  two  days  for 


So  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

the  Isle  of  France,  they  applied  for  a  passport,  but 
were  refused.  Nevertheless,  they  persuaded  the 
captain  to  let  them  embark,  and,  every  thing  on 
board,  they  set  sail  at  night.  A  government  dis- 
patch chased  them  down  the  river,  and  at  the  end 
of  two  days  overtook  them,  and  ordered  them  to  be 
put  on  shore.  With  sad  hearts  they  sought  lodgings 
near  the  river's  margin,  and  saw  the  ship  proceed  on 
her  way.  After  much  perplexity,  and  three  days' 
delay,  they  obtained  a  pass  from  the  magistrate,  to 
return  to  the  Creole :  and  hurrying  down  the  river, 
overtook  her  at  Saugar  roads,  seventy  miles  distant, 
where  she  had  lain  at  anchor  two  days. 

After  about  seven  weeks'  sail,  Mr,  Judson  reached 
the  Isle  of  France,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1813,  and 
found  Mr.  I^ewell  mourning  the  loss  of  his  wife,  and 
an  infant  daughter,  born  at  sea. 

Messrs.  Judson  and  Rice  had  been  on  the  island 
laboring  for  souls  about  two  months,  when  it  was 
deemed  expedient  that  the  latter  should  return  to 
the  United  States  to  create,  if  possible,  an  interest 
among  the  Baptist  denomination,  in  the  cause  of 
foreign  missions. 

Not  satisfied  with  having  driven  the  missionaries 
from  Calcutta,  the  directors  notified  the  governor  of 
the  Isle  of  France,  of  their  presence,  and  directed 
him  to  keep  a  vigilant  eye  on  their  movements.  The 
governor,  however,  paid  but  little  regard  to  such 
instruction;  and  they  were  allowed  the  freedom  of 
the  island.  But  Mr.  Judson  had  not  visited  the  Isle 
of  France  with  the  intention  of  remaining  ther^ 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  3T 

He  had,  at  first,  tlie  island  of  Madagascar  in  view ; 
but  learning  it  would  be  impossible  to  establish  a 
mission  there,  he  determined  to  try  the  experiment 
at  Penang,  or  Prince  of  Wales'  island.  As  a  direct 
passage  thither  could  not  be  obtained,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson  concluded  to  sail  for  Madras,  the  seat  of  one 
of  the  presidencies  of  Hindostan,  hoping  to  proceed 
thence  to  the  field  under  contemplation.  They  left 
the  Isle  of  France  about  the  middle  of  May,  and 
reached  Madras  the  early  part  of  June.  Here  they 
learned  that  the  Honorable  Company's  government 
accused  the  American  missionaries  of  being  spies  — 
there  being  war  at  that  time  between  England 
and  the  United  States  —  and  had  lately  attempted 
to  send  Messrs.  Hall  and  Kott  to  England.  This 
renewed  assurance  of  hostility  led  Mr.  Judson  to 
fear  lest  he  might  receive  similar  orders,  and  he  re- 
solved to  leave  the  place  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 
He  forthwith  ascertained  that  there  was  but  one  ship 
in  the  Madras  roads  that  would  leave  before  the 
authorities  at  Calcutta  might  hear  of  his  return  to 
India ;  that  one  was  bound  to  Rangoon,  the  principal 
port  in  the  Burman  empire.  From  the  unsettled 
state  of  things  there,  Mr.  Judson  dreaded  to  attempt 
a  mission ;  but  finding  no  passage  to  Penang,  and 
deeming  it  expedient  to  hasten  from  Madras,  he  took 
leave  of  the  English  missionaries  and  others  who 
had  kindly  entertained  him,  and  sailed  for  Burmah, 
on  the  22d  of  the  month  in  which  he  arrived. 

The   shores   of   the  Indian   seas    are    lined   with 
hidden  reefs   of  coral ;    and   as    the    passage  was 


38  THE   ^nSSIONARY   LABOES 

unusually  boisterous,  the  missionaries  were  exposed 
to  imminent  perils.  But  God  had  them  in  keep- 
ing,—  and  after  tossing  on  the  furious  waves  for 
three  weeks,  with  these  reefs  looking  upward  at  times 
with  horrible  threatening,  they  anchored  in  the  har- 
bor of  Hangoon.  It  was  a  memorable  day,  in  1813  ; 
and  the  14th  of  July  should  be  sacred  to  every 
American  Baptist, —  it  being  the  anniversary  of  the 
landing  of  their  first  representative  on  the  shores  of 
Burmah,  Adoniram  Ju.dson  that  day  entered  upon  a 
work  which  has  honored  the  Baptist  name  through- 
out Christendom,  and  given  him  a  fame  too  pure  to 
covet  the  "storied  urn,"  and  too  enduring  to  trust 
itself  with  the  "  animated  "  but  pulverizing  "  bust." 
^  Rangoon  had  previously  been  the  seat  of  a  mis- 
sion. Rev.  Messrs.  (Jhater  and  Mardon  made  a 
visit  to  the  place  in  January,  1807,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  English  Baptist  Missionary  Society ;  and 
on  returning  to  Serampore,  the  following  May,  made 
a  favorable  report.  It  was  consequently  decided  to 
commence  operations  there,  the  mission  to  be  under 
the  direction  of  the  gentlemen  at  Serampore.  Mr. 
Charter  and  Mr.  Felix  Carey,  a  son  of  Dr.  Carey, 
were  accordingly  designated  as  laborei'S  there,  and 
Bailed  v»^ith  their  wives  in  November.  In  1810,  they 
were  joined  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Pritchett  and  Brain, 
from  the  London  Missionary  Society.  The  latter 
Boon  died ;  and  as  the  Burman  government  held  bel- 
ligerent relations  to  the  Siamese,  the  former  in  a 
short  time  departed  for  a  more  promising  field.  In 
1811,  the  country  was  simdered  by  the  revolt  of 


OF  ADONIEAM  JUDSON.  Z9 

the  Muggs  and  Eaclimers ;  war  among  the  different 
princes  of  Burmah  threatened  Rangoon;  and  Mr. 
Chater  forsook  the  station,  and  went  to  Ceylon.  In 
1813,  Mr.  Carey  went  to  Ava,  to  inoculate  some 
members  of  the  royal  family,  and  departed  thence 
to  Serampore. 

Thus,  on  the  amval  of  Mr.  Judson  at  Kangoon, 
he  found  that  Providence  had  vacated  the  station 
for  him.  Of  all  its  members,  Mrs.  Carey  alone 
remained.  She  being  the  sole  occupant  of  the 
mission-house,  he  had  but  to  enter  the  unoccupied 
apartments,  and  prepare  for  his  great  work,  and  the 
baptism  of  suffering  and  sori'ow  which  awaited  him. 

Rangoon  is  situated  on  a  river  of  the  same  name, 
which  resembles  a  broad  bay,  being  six  miles  wide 
at  its  mouth.  It  is  one  of  the  outlets  of  the  Irra- 
waddy.  The  town  is  about  thirty  miles  from  the 
sea ;  is  built  on  marshy  land,  and  has  an  excellent 
harbor.  It  is  not  very  prepossessing  in  its  appear- 
ance, and,  at  some  seasons  of  the  year,  when  the 
water  is  high,  is  said  to  resemble  "  a  neglected 
swamp."  In  1813^Jts_population  was  estimated  at 
forty  thousand^  It  is  the  only  seaport  except  Bas- 
sein.  Its  commerce  is  extensive,  and  it  is  second 
only,  in  importance  as  a  city,  to  Ava.  The  latter  is 
the  capital  of  the  empire,  and  Hes  on  the  Irrawaddy, 
thi'ee  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  the  former. 

The  Burman  empire  was,  at  the  period  of  which 
we  are  speaking,  about  a  thousand  miles  long  and 
six  hundi'ed  wide.  Among  its  kingdoms  were  Ava, 
Pegu,  Mergui,  Tavoy,  and  Arracan.     Others  were 


40  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

added  by  Nunsun,  who  ascended  the  throne  in  1819 
A  war  with  the  British,  of  which  we  shall  have  oc- 
casion to  speak  hereafter,  lessened  its  dominions. 
The  name  of  the  reigning  monarch  in  1813,  was 
Menderagyee,  who  ascended  the  throne  in  1782,  and 
died  in  1819. 

The  Burmans  have  some  good  and  as  many  bad 
traits  of  character.  They  are  active,  industrious, 
persevering,  hospitable  and  courteous  to  strangers, 
yet  filthy,  sensual,  deceitful,  crafty,  and  thievish; 
and,  when  governed  by  rapacious  rulers,  are  cun- 
ning, false,  and  perjurious.  Their  lives  are  said  to 
be  "  wasted  in  the  profitless  alternation  of  sensual 
ease,  rude  drudgery,  and  active  sport.  J^o  ele- 
ments," the  same  writer  adds,  "  exist  for  the  im- 
provement of  posterity,  and  successive  generations 
pass,  like  the  crops  uj^on  their  fields.  Were  there 
but  a  disposition  to  improve  the  mind,  and  distrib- 
ute benefits,  what  majesty  of  piety  might  we  not 
hope  to  see  in  a  country  so  favored  with  the  means 
of  subsistence,  and  so  cheap  in  its  modes  of  living! 
Instead  of  the  many  objects  of  an  American's  am- 
bition, and  the  increasing  anxiety  to  amass  property, 
the  Burman  sets  a  limit  to  his  desires,  and  when 
that  is  reached,  gives  himself  to  repose  and  enjoy- 
ment. Instead  of  wearing  himself  out  in  endeavoi*s 
to  equal  or  surpass  his  neighbor  in  dress,  food,  furni- 
ture, or  house,  he  easily  attains  the  customary  stand- 
ard, beyond  which  he  seldom  desires  to  go." 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  enter  into  the  details  of  the 
grossnesB  and  degradation  of  the  Burman  character; 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  41 

tlie  picture  would  be  too  revolting.  It  is  enough 
to  say  that  it  is  drawn  in  the  first  chapter  of  Ro- 
mans,—  where  its  colors  stand  out  in  boldest  relief, 
and  give  us  the  deepest  and  most  melancholy  im- 
pression of  the  debasing  power  of  sin. 

Sin !  what  ravages  it  has  made  in  the  world,  and 
how  sad  to  contemplate  its  eifects,  especially  upon 
the  mind!  "Witness  its  lofty  powers  bowed  down 
in  ignominious  servitude  to  base  corporekl  appetites, 
and  furious  and  debasing  passions.  See  how  the 
understanding  is  darkened,  the  will  perverted,  and 
the  heart  alienated  from  all  that  is  holy.  See  reason 
and  conscience  dethroned,  and  selfishness  reigning  in 
gloomy  and  undisputed  tyranny  over  the  immortal 
mind,  while  appetite  and  passion  have  become  its 
obsequious  panders.  See  how  the  affections  turn 
away  with  loathing  from  God,  and  what  a  wall  of 
separation  has  sprung  up  between  man  and  his  Ma- 
ker; how  deeply  and  universally  he  has  revolted 
fi:*om  his  rightful  Sovereign,  and  has  chosen  other 
gods  to  rule  over  him."  —  "Hitchcock's  Religion  of 
Geology,"  page  103.  Such  is  the  character  of  all 
pagan  nations ;  thus  debased  and  blinded  were  the 
Burmans  when  Mr.  Judson  entered  their  empire. 

Before  giving  an  account  of  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Judson  among  these  people,  it  seems  proper  to  pre- 
sent an  epitome  of  their  religion,  to  the  overthrow 
of  which  those  labors  were  to  be  directed.  They 
belong  to  the  sect  of  Buddhists,  from  Buddh,  their 
term  for  divinity.  Buddhs  have  been  innumerable, 
Bome  in  most  worlds,  but  in  no  one  more  than  five. 


42  THE    MISSIONARY  LABOES 

Ours  has  had  four,  of  whom  Gaudama  was  the  last. 
He  was  born  625  years  before  Christ,  and  lived  in 
this  world  about  eighty  years.  He  w^as  the  son  of 
Thokedawdareh,  king  of  Benares.  "  He  had  pre- 
viously lived  in  four  hundred  millions  of  worlds, 
and  passed  through  innumerable  conditions  in  each. 
In  this  world,  he  had  been  almost  every  sort  of 
worm,  fly,  fowl,  fish,  or  animal,  and  almost  every 
grade  and  condition  of  human  life.  Having,  in 
the  course  of  these  transitions,  attained  immense 
merit,  he  at  length  was  born  son  of  the  above- 
named  king. 

"  The  moment  he  was  born,  he  jumped  upon  his 
feet,  and,  spreading  out  his  arms,  exclaimed,  '  JSTow 
am  I  the  noblest  of  men !  This  is  the  last  time  I 
shall  ever  be  born ! '  His  height  when  grown  up, 
was  nine  cubits.  His  ears  were  so  beautifully  long 
as  to  hang  upon  his  shoulders ;  his  hands  reached  to 
his  knees;  his  fingers  were  of  equal  length;  and 
with  his  tongue  he  could  touch  the  end  of  his  nose ! 
all  which  are  considered  irrefragable  proofs  of  his 
divinity." 

The  only  sacred  books  of  the  Buddhists  extant,  are 
the  laws  and  sayings  of  Gaudama.  They  were  re- 
duced to  writing,  in  the  Pali  language,  about  ninety- 
five  years  after  Christ.  These  books  are  called  the 
Bedagat.  Its  cosmogony  slightly  varies  in  the  dif- 
ferent books,  and  even  the  same  book  sometimes 
contradicts  itself.  For  a  very  interesting  sketch  of 
the  Buddhist's  universe,  we  refer  the  reader  to  the 
first  volume  of  "  Malcom's  Travels,"  by  which  work 


OF  ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  4:3 

we  are  mainly  guided  in  our  statements  of  tlie  char- 
acter and  religion  of  the  Burmans  : 

"  Of  any  supreme  God,  or  any  eternal,  self-exist- 
ent being,  Buddhism  affords  no  intimation ;  nor  of 
any  creation,  or  providence.  From  the  annihilation 
of  one  Buddh,  till  the  development  of  another,  there 
is  literally  no  God.  Intervening  generations  must 
worship  his  image,  law,  and  priests,  and  for  their 
rules  of  life  keep  the  sayings  of  the  last  Buddh, 
viz.  Gaudama. 

"  IS'ot  only  has  the  universe  and  all  its  sakiya 
systems  existed  from  eternity,  but  also  the  souls  of 
all  the  inhabitants,  whether  animals,  men,  or  celes- 
tials. These  souls  have  from  eternity  been  transmi- 
grating from  one  body  to  another,  rising  or  falling 
in  the  scale  of  existence  and  enjoyment,  according 
to  the  degree  of  merit  at  each  birth.  This  rise  or 
fall  is  not  ordered  by  any  intelligent  judge,  but  is 
decided  by  immutable  fate.  In  passing  through 
these  various  forms  of  existence  the  amount  of  sor- 
row, endured  by  each  soul,  is  incalculable.  The 
Bedagat  declares  that  the  tears  shed  by  any  one 
soul,  in  its  various  changes  from  eternity,  are  so 
numerous,  that  the  ocean  is  but  as  a  drop  in  com- 
parison !  Existence  and  sorrow  are  declared  to  be 
necessary  concomitants ;  and  therefore  '  the  chief  end 
of  man '  is  to  finish  this  eternal  round  of  changes, 
and  be  annihilated. 

"  The  great  doctrines  of  this  faith  are  five,  viz : 
1st.  The  eternal  existence  of  the  universe,  and  all 


4A  THE    MISSIONARY   LABOES 

beings  2cl.  Metempsycliosis.  3d.  Kicban  or  anni- 
hilation. 4th.  The  appearance,  at  distant  periods, 
of  beings  who  obtain  deification  and  subsequent 
anniliilation.  5th.  The  obtaining  of  merit.  Of  the 
■first  four  of  these,  enough  has  been  ab*eady  said. 
Tlie  last  is  more  deserving  of  notice,  embracing,  as 
it  does,  the  whole  system  of  morals. 

"  Merit  consists  in  avoiding  sins,  and  performing 
virtues ;  and  the  degree  of  it  is  the  sole  hope  of  the 
Buddhist.  The  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  the  receipt 
of  favor  througli  the  merit  of  another,  are  doctrines 
unknown.  That  suffering  can  be  in  any  way  re- 
garded as  a  blessing,  is  to  him  absurd. 

"  The  sins  which  are  to  be  avoided  are  described 
in  a  moral  code,  consisting  of  five  principal  and  pos- 
itive laws:  —  1st.  Tliou  shalt  not  kill.  2d.  Thou 
shalt  not  steal.  3d.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adul- 
tery. 4th.  Thou  shalt  not  lie.  5th.  Thou  shalt  not 
drink  any  intoxicating  liquor.  These  are  explained 
and  branched  out  so  as  to  include  all  sins  of  the 
same  kind,  under  each  head.  The  first  of  these 
laws  is  extended  to  all  killing,  even  that  of  animals 
for  food.  The  very  religious  will  not  kill  vermin. 
"War  and  capital  punishments  are  considered  forbid- 
den by  the  first  law. 

"  Sins  are  divided  into  three  classes :  1st.  Those 
of  the  body ;  such  as  killing,  theft,  fornication,  <fec 
2d.  Those  of  the  tongue ;  as  falsehood,  discord,  harsh 
language,  idle  talk,  &c.  3d.  Those  of  the  mind ;  as 
pride,  covetousness,  envy,  heretical  thoughts,  ador- 
ing false  gods,  &c. 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  45 

"  The  sacred  books  portray  strongly  the  evils  of 
pride,  anger,  covetousness,  and  inordinate  appetites. 
Men  are  urged  to  avoid  excessive  perfumes,  orna- 
ments, laughter,  vain  joy,  strong  drink,  smoking 
opium,  wandering  about  the  streets  in  the  night, 
excessive  fondness  for  amusements,  frequenting  bad 
company,  and  idleness.  Those  who  aspire  to  Nic- 
ban  are  cautioned  to  abhor  sorcery,  not  to  credit 
dreams,  nor  be  angry  when  abused,  nor  elated  wheu 
approved,  not  to  flatter  benefactors,  nor  to  indulge 
in  scorn  or  biting  jests,  and  most  carefully  to  avoid 
enkindling  strife. 

"  The  states  of  the  mind  are  resolved  into  three 
classes:  —  1st.  When  we  are  pleased  in  the  posses- 
sion of  agreeable  things.  2d.  When  we  are  grieved 
and  distressed  by  evil  things.  3d.  When  neither  do 
good  things  gratify  us,  nor  evil  things  distress.  The 
last  is  the  best  state;  and  in  it  a  man  is  rapidly 
preparing  for  JSficban.  In  this  there  is  no  small 
resemblance  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Stoics,  and  some 
approach  to  the  christian  doctrine  of  weanedness 
from  the  world.  Some  of  their  books  abound  in 
good  comparisons;  such  as,  that  he  who  runs  into 
sinful  enjoyments  is  like  a  butterfly,  who  flutters 
round  a  candle  till  it  fiills  in ;  or  one  who,  by  licking 
honey  from  a  knife,  cuts  his  tongue  with  the  edge. 
There  is  scarcely  a  prohibition  of  the  Bedagat,  which 
is  not  sanctioned  by  our  holy  Scriptures ;  and  the  argu- 
ments appended  to  them  are  often  just  and  forcible. 

"Merit  is  of  three  kinds: — 1st.  TJieela^  or  the 
observance  of  all  the  prohibitions  and  precepts,  and 


46  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

all  duties  fairly  deducible  from  them;  such  as  be- 
neficence, gentleness,  integrity,  lenity,  forbearance, 
condescension,  veneration  to  parents,  love  to  man- 
kind, &c.  2d.  Dana^  or  giving  alms  and  oiferings. 
This  includes  feeding  priests,  building  kyoungs,  pa- 
godas, and  zayats,  placing  bells  at  pagodas,  making 
public  roads,  tanks,  and  wells,  planting  trees  for 
shade  or  fruit,  keeping  pots  of  cool  water  by  the 
wayside  for  the  use  of  travelers,  feeding  criminals, 
birds,  animals,  &c.  3d.  Bawana^  or  repeating  pray- 
ers, and  reading  religious  books.  Of  this  last,  there 
are  three  degrees  or  sorts ;  the  first  consisting  in 
merely  reciting  prayers,  or  reading  thoughtlessly; 
the  second,  and  more  meritorious,  is  praying  or  read- 
ing, with  a  mind  attentive  to  the  exercise ;  the  third, 
and  most  excellent,  is  performing  these  exercises 
with  strong  desires  and  awakened  feelings.  He  who 
neglects  to  lay  up  merit,  is  compared  to  a  man  who 
sets  out  on  a  journey  through  an  uninhabited  coun- 
try, beset  with  wild  beasts,  and  provides  himself 
neither  with  food  nor  weapons. 

*'  Alms-deeds  are  meritorious  according  to  the  ob- 
jects on  which  they  are  bestowed ;  according  to  the 
following  general  scale:  —  1st.  Animals.  2d.  Com- 
mon laborors,  fishennen,  &c.  3d.  Merchants  and 
the  upper  classes  when  in  necessity.  4th.  Priests. 
For  alms  of  the  first  class,  the  rewards  are  long  life, 
beauty,  strength,  knowledge,  and  prosperity,  during 
a  hundred  transmigrations ;  for  those  of  the  second 
class,  the  same,  during  a  thousand  transmigrations ; 
for  the  third,  the  same,  during  ten  thousand ;  for  the 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  47 

fourth,  a  vastly  great  number,  but  indefinite,  being 
graduated  according  to  the  degree  of  sanctity  the 
particular  priests  may  possess.  Alms  given  by  a 
poor  man  are  declared  to  be  incomparably  more 
meritorious  than  those  given  by  the  rich.  So  great 
merit  is  conferred  by  acts  of  Dana^  that  persons  are 
distinguished  in  society  by  honorable  appellations 
on  this  account.  The  most  meritorious  deed  is  to 
make  an  idol,  and  this  in  proportion  to  its  size  and 
value. 

"  In  attaining  Bawana^  the  third  sort  of  merit,  a 
prominent  exercise,  is  the  frequent  repetition  of  the 
words  '  aneit-sa^  doke-kha^  Ah-nah-ta?  The  first  of 
these  words  implies  our  liability  to  outward  injuries 
and  evils  ;  the  second,  our  exposure  to  mental  sufifer- 
ings ;  the  third,  our  entire  inability  to  escape  these 
eA^ils.  The  repetition  of  this  prayer  or  soliloquy  is 
of  far  greater  merit  than  even  alms-giving.  To  keep 
some  reckoning  in  this  most  important  particular, 
the  votary  commonly  uses  a  string  of  beads,  and 
passes  one  through  his  fingers  at  each  repetition. 

"  Many  discourses,  said  to  have  been  delivered  by 
Gaudama,  are  given  in  the  Bedagat.  In  these,  the 
duties  of  parents,  children,  husbands,  wives,  teach- 
ers, scholars,  masters,  slaves,  &c.,  are  drawn  out  and 
urged,  in  a  manner  which  would  do  honor  to  any 
casuist." 


CHAPTEE  lY. 


Early  Labors  of  Mr.  Judson  at  Rangoon  — Missionary  Movements  among  Ameri- 
can Baptists  —  Mr.  Judson's  Literary  Progress  —  Death  of  the  First  Born. 

For  more  than  two  years  after  his  arrival  at  Kan- 
goon,  Mr.  Judson  toiled,  without  knowing  definitely  '^ 
under  whose  patronage  he  was  at  work ;  but  his  pe- 
culiar and  trying  circumstances  did  not  weaken  his 
faith,  abate  the  ardor  of  his  hopes,  or  quench  his  love 
for  the  souls  of  the  benighted  millions,  who  were 
sinking  into  a  hopeless  grave.  Hence,  during  the 
period  above  mentioned,  he  strove  to  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  a  work,  which  he  could  continue  to  advantage, 
were  it  the  will  of  God  that  he  should  remain  in 
Burmah.  He  acquainted  himself  with  the  condition 
of  the  country  and  its  inhabitants,  and  made  some 
progress  in  the  acquisition  of  their  language.*  We 
say  some  progress,  for  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to 

*  The  method  of  learning  the  language  was  as  follows :  The 
teacher,  though  an  intelligent  man,  knew  nothing  of  English,  and 
would  point  to  various  objects,  and  pronounce  their  names  in  Burman. 


ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  49 

learn,  and  more  than  twice  two  years  were  necessary 
for  one  to  acquire  it  perfectly.  After  studying  it  two 
or  three  years,  he  -^n'ote  to  Rev.  Lucius  Bolles, 

"  I  just  now  begin  to  see  my  way  forward  in  this 
language,  and  hope  that  two  or  three  years  more  will 
make  it  somewhat  familiar;  but  I  have  met  with 
difficulties  that  1  had  no  idea  of  before  I  entered  on 
the  work.  For  a  European  or  American  to  acquire 
a  living  oriental  language,  root  aiid  branch,  and 
make  it  his  own,  is  quite  a  different  thing  from  his 
acquiring  a  cognate  language  of  the  west,  or  any  of 
the  dead  languages,  as  they  are  studied  in  the  schools. 
One  circumstance  may  serve  to '  illustrate  this.  I 
once  had  occasion  to  devote  a  few  months  to  the 
study  of  French.  I  have  now  been  above  two  years 
engaged  in  the  Burman.  If  I  were  to  choose  be- 
tween a  Burman  and  a  French  book,  to  be  examined 
in,  without  previous  study,  I  should,  without  the 
least  hesitation,  choose  the  French.  When  we  take 
up  a  western  language,  the  similarity  in  the  charac- 
ters, in  very  many  terms,  in  many  modes  of  expres- 
sion, and  in  the  general  structure  of  the  sentences, 
its  being  in  fair  print  —  a  circumstance  we  hardly 
think  of — and  the  assistance  of  grammars,  diction- 
aries, and  instructors,  render  the  work  comparatively 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jiidson  would  repeat  tlicm  after  him,  and  thu.s  they 
slowly  learned  the  vocabulary.  Mr.  Judsnn  also  studied  the  Pali,  the 
court  language  of  the  Burmans,  without  a  knowledge  of  which  one 
could  not  be  considered  learned.  Dr.  Malcoru  says  it  is  wholly  a 
dead  language.  Mr.  Judson  subsequently  ascertained  that  the  time 
he  devoted  to  it,  was  needlessly  expended. 
4 


60  THE   MISSIONARY  LABORS 

easy.  But  when  we  take  up  a  language  spoken  by 
a  people  on  the  other  side  of  the  earth,  whose  very 
thoughts  run  in  channels  diverse  from  ours,  and 
whose  modes  of  expression  are  consequently  all  new 
and  uncouth;  when  we  find  the  letters  and  words 
totally  destitute  of  the  least  resemblance  to  any  lan- 
guage we  had  ever  met,  and  these  words  not  fairly 
divided,  and  distinguished,  as  in  western  writing,  by 
breaks,  and  points,  and  capitals,  but  run  together  in 
one  continuous  line,  a  sentence  or  paragraj^h  seeming 
to  the  eye  but  one  long  word ;  when,  instead  of  clear 
characters  on  paper,  we  find  only  obscure  scratches 
on  dried  palm  leaves,  strung  together,  and  called  a 
book;  when  we  have  no  dictionary,  and  no  inter- 
preter to  explain  a  single  word,  and  must  get  some- 
thing of  the  language,  before  we  can  avail  ourselves 
of  the  assistance  of  a  native  teacher, — 

'Hoc  opus,  hie  labor  est.'  " 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  with  Mr.  Judson, 
when,  on  the  5th  of  September,  1815,  three  years  v 
and  five  days  after  he  had  written  to  Dr.  Bolles, 
announcing  his  change  of  sentiments,  he  received 
the  cheering  intelligence  that  a  Baptist  Missionary 
Convention  had  been  formed  in  the  United  States, 
and  that  himself  and  wife,  together  with  Mr.  Rice,"^ 
had  been  appointed  missionaries. 

*  Mr.  Rice  was  directed,  however,  to  remain  in  the  United  States, 
and  travel,  as  he  had  been  doing  for  nearly  a  year  before  his  designa- 
tion to  the  work,  in  order  to  awaken  among  the  Baptists  a  deeper 
interest  on  the  subject  of  missions,  and  to  aid  in  organizing  associa- 
tions promotive  of  tho  sause.    He  never  returned  to  the  East 


OF   ADONmAM   JUDSON.  51 

The  letter  addressed  to  Dr.  Bolles,  on  the  first  of 
September,  1812,  with  other  communications  from 
Mr.  Judson,  reached  Boston  in  February,  1813  ;  and 
the  intelligence,  that  two  of  the  pioneer  missionaries 
Bent  out  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  had  become 
Baptists,  and  appealed  to  the  churches  of  that  denom- 
ination for  support,  spread  with  astonishing  rapidity, 
and  produced  the  most  happy  results.  It  was  justly 
regarded  as  a  providential  call  to  American  Baptists, 
to  enlist  in  the  great  and  glorious  enterprise  for  car- 
rying the  gospel  to  benighted  nations,  and  the  spirit 
of  expanded  benevolence  took  possession  at  once  of 
thousands  of  hearts.  The  first  demonstration  of  in- 
terest, in  an  associated  capacity,  was  witnessed  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Baldwin,  of  Boston,  where  several 
clergymen  convened  immediately  on  the  reception  of 
Mr.  Judson's  letters,  and  formed  —  February  8th, 
1813  —  "The  Baptist  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  in  India  and  other  Foreign  Parts." 

Dr.  Sharp  was  chosen  secretary,*  and  instructed  to 
write  to  the  directors  of  the  English  Baptist  society, 
communicating  Mr.  Judson's  circumstances,  and  pro- 
posing that  he  should  be  allowed  to  connect  himself 
with  the  Serampore  mission,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
supported  by  American  churches.  This  proposal 
was  politely,  and  no  doubt  wisely,  rejected.      The 

*  The  charge  of  tliis  Society  was  committed  to  twelve  men  :  Thos. 
Baldwin,  Daniel  Sharp,  Joseph  Grafton,  Heman  Lincoln,  E.  Lincoln, 
James  Loring,  William  Collier,  Thomas  Kendall,  Amos  Smith,  Prince 
Snow,  J.  C.  Ransford,  and  Charles  Wheeler.  Only  two  of  this  num- 
ber, Dr.  Sharp  and  Hon.  Heman  Lincoln,  survive. 


62  THE  MISSION ARr  LABORS 

advice  of  Dr.  Fuller  was,  that  American  Baptists 
should  organize  a  society  of  their  own. 

Other  local  missionary  societies  were  formed  in 
1813,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1814 ;  and  on  the  18th 
of  May,  in  the  latter  year,  a  convention  was  held  in 
Philadelphia,  when  was  formed  "  The  General  Mis- 
sionary Convention  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in 
the  United  States  of  America  for  Foreign  Missions." 

Thus  Mr.  Judson  was  made  a  leading  agent,  in  the^ 
hand  of  God,  in  the  formation  of  two  national  mis- 
sionary societies.  The  document  which  he  prepared 
for  the  consideration  of  the  meeting  of  Congrega- 
tional ministers  in  1810,  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners,  and  his  change  of  views  on 
baptism,  and  his  appeal  to  Baptist  brethren  in  the 
United  States,  originated  the  Triennial  Convention.* 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers,  ap- 
pointed by  this  Convention,  and  held  immediately 
on  the  adjournment  of  that  body,  several  resolutions 
were  passed,  having  reference  to  the  aj)pointment  of 
missionaries,  and  among  them  the  following,  relative 
to  Mr.  Judson : 

"  Resolved^  That  Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  Jr.,  now 
in  India,  be  considered  as  a  missionary,  under  the 
care  and  direction  of  this  Board,  of  which  he  shall 
be  informed  without  delay.  That  provision  be  made 
for  the  support  of  him  and  his  family  accordingly ; 

•This  body  retained  most  of  its  original  features  until  1846,  when 
it  took  the  name  of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union,  which 
now  m«et»  annually. 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  59 

and  that  one  thousand  dollars  be  transmitted  to  him 
by  the  first  safe  opportunity.  That  the  secretary  of 
the  Particular  Baptist  Society  for  Missions,  in  Eng- 
land, be  informed  of  this  transaction ;  and  that  this 
Board  has  assumed  the  pledge  given  by  the  Boston 
.Mission  Society,  to  pay  any  bills  which  may  be 
di'awn  on  them,  in  consequence  of  advances  they 
may  have  made  in  favor  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson. 

"  Resolded^  That  our  brother  Judson  be  requested, 
for  the  present,  to  pursue  his  pious  labors  in  such 
places  as,  in  his  judgment,  may  aj)pear  most  promis- 
ing; and  that  he  communicate  his  views  of  futm-e 
permanent  stations  to  this  Board,  as  early  as  he 
conveniently  can. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Con 
vention,  and  of  this  Board,  be  communicated  to  the 
Baptist  Missionary  Society  in  England,  and  to  their 
missionaries  at  Serampore,  assuring  them  that  it  is 
the  desire  of  this  Board  to  hold  an  aflectionate  inter- 
course with  tliem,  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  :  that  they 
will  ever  be  grateful  for  any  information  which  the 
extensive  experience  of  their  brethren  may  enable 
them  to  impart  on  the  subject  of  fields  for  missionary 
action,  &c.  &c.,  and  will  derive  joy  from  the  reflec- 
tion that  though,  in  these  transactions,  their  respec- 
tive seats  of  council  be  remote  from  each  other,  their 
hearts  and  aims  are  harmonious." 

The  reception  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Triennial 
Convention,  and  its  Board  of  Managers,  gave  Mr. 
Judson  great  encom-agement.      He  received  them 


54  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

during  the  absence  of  his  wife  at  Madras,  whither 
she  had  gone  for  the  restoration  of  her  health,^  and 
at  a  time  when  he  seemed  most  to  need  cheering 
intelh'gence.  Nor  was  he  insensible  of  the  blessing 
which  God  had  conferred,  by  illuminating  the  night 
which  had  so  long  hung  over  him.  He  thus  expresses 
his  joy  and  pious  gratitude  : 

"  These  accounts  from  my  dear  native  land  were  so 
interesting  as  to  banish  from  my  mind  all  thoughts 
of  study.  This  general  movement  among  the  Bap- 
tist churches  in  America  is  particularly  encouraging, 
as  it  affords  an  additional  indication  of  God's  merci- 
ful designs  in  favor  of  the  poor  heathen.  It  unites 
with  all  the  Bible  societies  in  Europe  and  America, 
during  the  last  twenty  years,  in  furnishing  abundant 
reason  to  hope  that  the  dreadful  darkness  which  has 
so  long  enveloped  the  earth  is  about  to  flee  away 
before  the  rising  sun.  Do  not  the  successes  which 
have  crowned  some  missionary  exertions  seem  like 
the  dawn  of  morning  on  the  east?  O!  that  this 
region  of  Egyptian  darkness  may  ere  long  participate 
in  the  vivifying  beams  of  light. 

"  None  but  one  who  has  had  the  experience,  can 
tell  what  feelings  comfort  the  heart  of  a  solitary  mis- 
sionary, when,  though  all  the  scenes  around  him 
present  no  friend,  he  remembers,  and  has  proof,  that 
there  are  spots  on  this  wide  earth,  where  christian 
brethren  feel  that  his  cause  is  their  own,  and  pray  to 

*  She  embarked  for  Madras  in  January,  1815,  and  returned  the  fol- 
lowing April,  with  her  health  completely  restored. 


OF  ADONIKAM    JUDSON.  91 

the  same  God  and  Saviour  for  Ills  welfare  and  success. 
Thanks  be  to  God,  not  only  for  '  rivers  of  endless 
joys  above,'  but  for  '  rills  of  comfort  here  below.' " 

The  following  letter,  written  at  this  period,  explains 

itself: 

Rangoon,  Jan.  18,  1816. 

Dear  Brother  Ward, —  I  have  finished  the  Ubid- 
han,  to  my  great  joy.  But  I  know  but  little  yet 
about  the  grammar  and  internal  structm-e  of  the  Pali. 
My  object  has  been  words  simply,  without  much 
regard  to  their  terminations.  My  collection  amounts 
to  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty.  And 
here  I  must  let  the  matter  rest  for  the  present,  being 
grieved  at  having  spent  so  much  time  already  on  a 
work  not  directly  Burman.  I  have  heard  of  a  new 
Pali  grammar,  lately  compiled  at  Ava,  said  to  be 
greatly  superior  to  those  now  in  use ;  and  have  taken 
measures  to  secure  a  copy.  If  I  should  succeed,  I 
shall  probably  give  a  little  more  attention  to  the 
language. 

I  am  now  beginning  to  translate  a  little.  I  am 
extremely  anxious  to  get  some  parts  of  Scripture  into 
an  intelligible  state,  fit  to  be  read  to  Burmans  that  I 
meet  with.  I  have  nothing  yet  that  I  can  venture  to 
use.  The  Portuguese  missionaries  have  left  a  version 
of  some  extracts  of  Scripture,  not  very  badly  execut- 
ed, in  regard  to  language,  but  full  of  Komish  errors. 
Tliis,  however,  will  afibrd  me  some  assistance. 

I  remain^  &c., 

A.   JuDSON. 


56  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

On  the  4tli  of  May,  ISIG,  Mr.  Judson  lost  his  first- 
born, a  boy  about  eight  niontlis  old.  While  it  is 
hard  for  parents  to  part  with  children,  under  any 
circumstances,  it  was  peculiarly  trying  for  these  pio- 
neer missionaries  to  give  up  their  only  child.  Re- 
mote from  all  christian  society,  their  "little  Roger 
Williams  "  w^as  to  them  like  a  bright  and  newly-risen 
star,  the  sole  orb  in  their  social  sky,  twinkling  amid 
the  gloom  of  moral  darkness  that  surrounded  them, 
and  irradiating  their  solitary  christian  dwelling. 
When  the  light  was  quenched,  a  brief  night  of  sor- 
row gathered  over  them.  But  amid  the  darkness, 
however  dun,  they  saw  the  hand  of  the  Smiter,  kissed 
the  rod,  and  without  a  murmur  said,  "  Thy  will  be 
done."     Such  is  the  power  of  faith,  which 

" lights  us  through  the  dark  to  Deity  ; " 

such  the  beauty  of  christian  resignation.  Thus  blest, 
these  lone  and  smitten  pilgrims  could  sing,  in  the 
land  of  pagodas,  and  false  and  helpless  gods, 

Let  us  be  patient !  these  severe  afflictions 

Not  from  the  ground  arise, 
But  often  times  celestial  benedictions 

Assume  this  dark  disguise. 

We  see  but  dimly  through  the  mists  and  vapors  ; 

Amid  these  earthly  damps, — 
What  seems  to  us  but  dim,  funereal  tapers. 

May  be  heaven's  distant  lamps. 

There  is  no  Death  1  what  seems  so,  is  transition  ; 

This  life  of  mortal  breath 
Is  but  a  suburb  of  the  life  elysian. 

Whose  portal  we  call  Death. 


OF   ADONERAM   JUDSON.  5T 


And  though  at  times,  impetuous  with  emotion 

And  anguish  long  suppressed. 
The  swelling  heart  heaves,  moaning  like  the  ocean, 

That  cannot  be  at  rest ; 

"We  wiU  be  patient,  and  assuage  the  feeling 

"We  cannot  wholly  stay  ; 
By  silence  sanctifying,  not  concealing. 

The  grief  that  must  have  way. —  Longfellow 


CHAPTER   Y. 

Mr.  Judson  joined  by  Mr.  Hough  — Printing  in  the  Burman  Language  — First 
Inquirers  after  Truth  — Mr.  Judson  sails  for  Chitiagong  — Driven  out  of  his 
Course  and  Delayed  — Mr.  Hough  goes  to  Bengal  — Mr.  Judson  returns  to 
Rangoon  —  Heroic  conduct  of  Mrs.  Judson. 

In  the  early  part  of  1816,  though  not  fully  master 
of  the  Burman  language,  Mr.  Judson  could  write  it 
with  tolerable  ease,  and  had  ventured  to  prepare  a  / 
tract,  entitled  "Summary  of  Christian  Doctrines."  ^ 
About  this  time,  his  eyes  became  so  much  affected  by 
his  unremitted  mental  labor,  that  he  could  not  read, 
though  he  was  able  to  progress  a  little  on  a  Burman 
grammar,  which  he  was  preparing.  In  the  midst  of 
his  affliction  and  despondency,  while  greatly  needing 
additional  help,  his  heart  was  gladdened  by  the  tid- 
ings, that  Rev.  George  H.  Hough,  and  wife,  and  Mrs. 
Charlotte  White,*  who  had  been  appointed  by  the 
American  Board  of  Managers,  as  missionaries  to 
Burmah,  had  reached  Calcutta.  The  news  came 
while  he  was  waiting  for  a  vessel  to  sail,  in  which  he 
had  engaged  a  passage  to  Bengal,  for  the  improve- 
ment of  his  health.     This  voyage  he  now  abandoned, 

•  Mrs.  White  was  married  soon  after,  and  remained  at  Calcutta, 


A.DONIRAM   JUDSON-.  69 

and  soon  began  to  amend.  He  had  commenced  nego- 
tiations with  the  English  brethren  at  Serampore,  to 
print  his  tract  and  some  other  works  which  were 
being  prepared,  when  he  ascertained  that  Mr.  Plough, 
who  had  been  bred  a  printer,  was  on  the  way.  The 
latter  was  considerably  delayed  at  Calcutta;  and 
w^iile  there,  the  Baptist  missionaries  presented  the 
Burman  mission  with  a  press,  and  font  of  Bur- 
man  types,  together  with  the  apparatus  necessary  for 
printing.  The  press  arrived  at  Eangoon  about  the 
first  of  August.  On  the  sixth  of  the  same  month, 
Mr.  Judson  wrote  to  Dr.  Baldwin,  giving  an  account 
of  his  labors  the  previous  half  year,  his  sickness,  the 
progress  and  prospects  of  the  mission,  and  his  wishes 
and  aspirations  in  regard  to  it.  We  subjoin  a  few 
paragraphs : 

"I  expect  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall  be 
ordered  up  to  Ava.  The  press,  also,  which  has  just 
arrived  from  Bengal,  w^ill  not  probably  be  allowed  to 
stop  long  in  Rangoon.  This  will  open  a  wide  field, 
and  make  it  necessary  to  support  two  stations.  I  beg, 
therefore,  that  the  Board  will  endeavor  to  send  out 
one  or  two  men  Avith  brother  Rice,  or  as  soon  after  as 
possible.  The  sooner  they  are  on  the  ground,  learn- 
ing the  language,  the  sooner  they  will  be  fit  for  ser- 
vice. I  have  never  before  thought  it  prudent  to  write 
for  more  men,  in  addition  to  those  I  knew  were  des- 
tined to  the  place  ;  but  some  favorable  prospects 
lately  begin  to  open;  and  the  more  I  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  state  of  things,  the  less  reason  I 


60  THE    MISSIONARY    LABORS 

have  to  fear  that  the  government  of  the  country  will, 
at  present,  oppose  the  work. 

"  We  know  not  the  designs  of  God,  in  regard  to 
this  country ;  but  I  cannot  but  have  raised  expecta- 
tions. It  is  true,  we  may  have  to  labor  and  wait 
many  years  before  the  blessing  comes ;  l>ut  we  see 
what  God  is  doing  in  ot/ier  heatlien  hinds,  after 
trying  the  faith  and  sincerity  of  his  servants  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  years.  Look  at  Otaheite,  Bengal, 
and  Africa.  And  is  Burmah  to  remain  a  solitary 
instance  of  the  inefficacy  of  prayer,  of  the  forgetful- 
ness  of  a  merciful  and  faithful  God  ?  Is  it  nothing, 
that  an  attempt  is  begun  to  be  made ;  that,  in  one 
instance,  the  language  is  considerably  acquired ;  that 
a  tract  is  ready  for  publication,  which  is  intelligible 
and  perspicuous,  and  will  give  the  Burmans  their 
first  ideas  of  a  Saviour  and  the  way  of  salvation ; 
that  a  press  and  types  have  now  amved,  and  a  printer 
is  on  the  way;  that  a  grammar  is  finished,  to  facili- 
tate the  studies  of  others,  and  a  dictionary  of  the 
language  is  in  a  very  forward  state;  and  that  the 
way  is  now  prepared,  as  soon  as  health  permits,  to 
proceed  slowly  in  the  translation  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment? Is  it  nothing  that,  just  at  this  time,  tlie  mon- 
arch of  the  country  has  taken  a  violent  hate  to  the 
priests  of  his  own  religion,  and  is  endeavoring  with 
all  his  power,  to  extirpate  the  whole  order ;  at  the 
same  time  professing  to  be  an  inquirer  after  the  true 
religion?  Is  all  this  to  be  set  down  a  mere  cypher  ? 
It  is  true  that  we  may  desire  much  more.  But  let 
us  use  what  we  have,  and  God  will  give  us  more. 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  61 

However,  men  and  money  must  be  forthcoming. 
Work  cannot  be  done  without  men  ;  and  men  cannot 
•work  without  bread  ;  nor  can  we  expect  the  ravens 
to  feed  them  in  ordinary  cases. 

"I  do  not  say,  several  hundred  missionaries  are 
needed  here.  This,  though  true,  would  be  idle  talk. 
My  request,  I  think,  is  modest.  Five  men,  allowing 
two  or  three  to  each  of  the  stations,  is  the  smallest 
number  that  will  possibly  answer." 

In  a  joint  communication,  addressed  to  the  corres- 
ponding secretary,  on  the  17th  of  November,  1816, 
Messrs.  Judson  and  Hough  say : 

"  We  know  not  how  long  the  press  will  be  per- 
mitted to  remain  in  Rangoon ;  we  do  not,  however, 
deprecate  its  removal  to  Ava.  Such  a  measure 
would,  doubtless,  tend  to  the  fiirtherance  of  the 
cause,  and  to  the  introduction  of  religion  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  empire,  where  Satan's  seat  is.  But 
in  this  case,  more  men  and  more  money  would  be 
imperiously  demanded ;  and  we  trust  that  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  Board  will  not  fail  us  in  these  necessa- 
ry points.  We  desire  humbly  to  repeat  to  the  Board 
what  the  first  missionaries  from  the  Baptist  society 
in  England  said  to  their  friends,  when  on  the  point 
of  embarkation  in  the  great  work  which  seems 
destined  to  illume  western  India  with  the  light  of 
the  gospel.  'We  are,'  said  they,  'like  men  going 
down  into  a  deep  well ;  you  stand  at  the  top,  and 
hold  the  ropes.    Do  not  let  us  faU.'     Hold  us  up, 


63  THE   ]VnSSIONAKT   LAB0K3 

brethren  and  fathers;  and,  if  health  and  life  be 
spared  ns,  we  hope,  through  the  grace  of  God,  to  see 
eastern  India,  also,  beginning  to  participate  in  the 
same  glorious  light.  Many  years  may  intervene,  in 
the  latter,  as  well  as  the  former  case ;  many  difficul- 
ties and  disappointments  may  try  your  faith  and 
ours.  But  let  patience  have  her  perfect  work ;  let 
us  not  be  weary  of  well  doing ;  for  in  due  season  we 
shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not." 

Mr.  Hough  reached  Eangoon  on  the  15th  of  Oc- 
tober, and,  with  unspeakable  joy,  Mr.  Judson  wel- 
comed a  fellow  laborer.  With  mountains  of  labor 
before  them,  he  and  his  companion  had  stood  alone 
in  the  Burman  empire  more  than  three  years ,  and, 
unapplauded  by  mortal  lips,  had  toiled  on  in  their 
painful  isolation,  with  the  musical  whispers  of  an 
approving  conscience  to  cheer  them,  and  the  prom- 
ises of  God  to  encourage. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  printer  whom  God 
had  sent  to  work  the  donated  press,  the  tract  al-  ; 
ready  mentioned,  together  with  a  catechism  which 
Mr.  Judson  had  also  prepared,  was  printed;  and 
the  Gospel  of  Matthew  was  shortly  after  put  to  press,  ^^'n 
Thus  Mr.  Judson  was  at  length  enabled  to  gratify 
the  cui-iosity  of  the  cunning  Burmans,  who  had 
repeatedly  inquired  for  the  sacred  books  of  the  new 
religion.  Although,  as  yet,  no  additions  had  been 
made  to  the  chm-ch  which  the  missionaries  had 
formed  among  themselves,  the  seed  was  being  scat- 
tered abroad,  and  there  were  promising  indications 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUr^ON.  Ifi^ 

that  it  was  taking  root  in  the  hearts  on  which  it  had 
fallen. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  corresponding  secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Managers,  March  7th,  1817, 
Mr.  Judson  writies,  "  I  have  this  day  been  visited 
by  the  first  inquirer  after  religion,  that  I  have 
Been  in  Burmah.  For  although  in  the  course  of  the 
last  two  years  I  have  preached  the  gospel  to  many, 
and  though  some  have  visited  me  several  times, 
and  conversed  on  the  subject  of  religion ;  yet  I  have 
never  had  much  reason  to  believe  that  their  visits 
originated  in  a  spirit  of  sincere  inquiry.  Conversa- 
tions on  religion  have  always  been  of  my  propos- 
ing ;  and  though  I  have  sometimes  been  encouraged 
to  hope  that  truth  had  made  some  impression,  never, 
imtil  to-day,  have  I  met  with  one  who  was  fairly 
entitled  to  the  epithet  of  inquirer. 

"As  I  was  sitting  with  my  teacher,  as  usual,  a 
Burman  of  respectable  appearance,  and  followed  by 
a  servant,  came  up  the  steps,  and  sat  down  by  me. 
I  asked  him  the  usual  question,  where  he  came  from : 
to  which  he  gave  me  no  explicit  reply ;  and  I  began 
to  suspect  that  he  had  come  from  the  government 
house,  to  enforce  a  trifling  request,  which  in  the 
morning  we  had  declined.  He  soon,  however,  un- 
deceived and  astonished  me,  by  asking,  '  How  long 
a  time  will  it  take  me  to  learn  the  religion  of  Jesus  ? ' 
I  replied  that  such  a  question  could  not  be  answered. 
If  God  gave  light  and  wisdom,  the  religion  of  Jesus 
was  soon  learned;  but  without  God,  a  man  might 
gtudy  all  his  life  long,  and  make  no  proficiency.   But 


64  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

how,  continued  I,  came  you  to  know  anj  thing  of 
Jesus  ?  Have  you  been  here  before  ?  '  IN'o.'  Have 
you  seen  any  writings  concerning  Jesus  ?  '  I  have 
seen  two  little  books.'  "Who  is  Jesus  ?  '  He  is  the 
Son  of  Grod,  who,  pitying  creatures,  came  into  this 
world,  and  suffered  death  in  their  stead.'  Who  is 
God  ?  '  He  is  a  Being  without  beginning  or  end, 
who  is  not  subject  to  old  age  or  death,  but  always 
is.'  I  can  not  tell  how  I  felt  at  this  moment.  This 
was  the  first  acknowledgment  of  an  eternal  God, 
that  I  had  ever  heard  from  the  lips  of  a  Burman. 
I  handed  him  a  tract  and  catechism,  both  of  which 
he  instantly  recognized,  and  read  here  and  there, 
making  occasional  remarks  to  his  follower,  such  as, 
'  This  is  the  true  God — this  is  the  right  way,'  &c. 
I  now  tried  to  tell  him  some  things  about  God  and 
Christ,  and  himself;  but  he  did  not  listen  with  much 
attention,  and  seemed  anxious  only  to  get  another 
book.  I  had  already  told  him  two  or  three  times 
that  I  had  finished  no  other  book ;  but,  that  in  two 
or  three  months,  I  would  give  him  a  larger  one,  which 
I  was  now  daily  employed  in  translating.  '  But,'  re- 
plied he,  '  have  you  not  a  little  of  that  book  done, 
which  you  will  graciously  give  me  now  ? '  And  I, 
beginning  to  think  that  God's  time  was  better  than 
man's,  folded  and  gave  him  the  first  two  half  sheets, 
which  contain  the  first  five  chapters  of  Matthew;  on 
which  he  instantly  rose,  as  if  his  business  was  all 
done;  and  having  received  an  invitation  to  come 
again,  took  leave.  Throughout  his  short  stay,  he 
appeared  different  from  any  Burman  I  have  met 


OF  ADONTRAM  JIJDSOK.  ^S 

with.  He  asked  no  questions  about  customs  and 
manners,  with  which  the  Burmans  tease  us  exceed- 
ingly. He  had  no  curiosity,  and  no  desire  for  any- 
thing, but  '  more  of  this  sort  of  writing.'  " 

Two  or  three  weeks  after  this  inquirer  had  depart- 
ed, Mr.  Judson  learned,  through  an  acquaintance, 
that  he  was  reading,  with  great  avidity,  the  books 
he  had  accepted,  and  showing  them  to  all  who  waited 
on  him.  This  inquirer  did  not  call  at  the  mission- 
house  again  until  January,  1818,  almost  a  year  after 
his  first  visit.  Mr.  Judson  was  then  absent.  The 
long  interval  was  occasioned  by  his  being  appointed 
governor  of  a  cluster  of  villages  on  the  Syrian  river, 
in  the  province  of  Pegu. 

During  the  summer  of  1817,  inquirers  began  to 
multiply.  It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  see  one 
or  more  at  the  mission-house ;  but  they  usually  came 
separately,  or  in  groups  of  two  or  three,  who  were 
on  terms  of  intimacy.  They  seemed  to  manifest  an 
miwillingness  to  be  seen  there  by  strangers,  fearing, 
perhaps,  that  they  should  be  reported  to  the  civil 
authorities,  and  incm-  their  displeasure. 

In  December,  1817,  Mr.  Judson  embarked  foi 
Chittagong,  in  Arracan,  ten  days'  sail  from  Ran- 
goon ;  the  objects  of  his  visit  being  to  improve  his 
health,  and  avail  himself  of  the  literary  services  of 
some  Arracanese  converts.  They  spoke  the  Burman 
language,  and  if  one  of  them  could  be  persuaded  to 
accompany  him  to  Eangoon,  and  tarry  there,  he 
thought  he  could  acquire  the  language  much  more 


QQ  THE    MISSIONARY    LABOES 

rapidly.  He  expected  to  return  in  three  months; 
but  contrary  winds  made  the  vessel  unmanageable, 
changed  her  course  toward  Madras,  which  she  was 
unable  to  reach,  and  he  was  landed  three  hundred 
miles  from  that  city.  Thither  he  was  obliged  to 
travel  by  land,  and  was  unable  to  sail  for  Eangoon 
until  the  20th  of  July.  He  was  absent  eight  months. 
Some  of  his  hardships,  perplexities,  trials,  and  anx- 
ieties, are  indicated  in  a  letter  written  at  Madras,  on 
the  28th  of  May,  1818,  and  addressed  to  the  corres- 
ponding secretary : 

*  4f  *  "Finally  we  did  reach  Masulipatam, 
and,  as  there  was  no  prospect,  that  season,  of  reach- 
ing Madras  by  sea,  the  only  port  on  the  coast  where 
I  could  hope  to  find  a  vessel  bound  to  Eangoon, 
I  was  under  the  necessity  of  taking  a  journey  by 
land — distance  about  three  hundred  miles.  I,  ac- 
cordingly, hired  a  palanquin  and  bearers,  and  arrived 
here  on  the  8th  of  April.  *  *  '^'  Here  I  have 
remained  ever  since,  under  very  trying  circumstances. 
Have  scarcely  heard  from  Eangoon,  since  I  left,  or 
been  able  to  transmit  any  intelligence  thither,  by  a 
conveyance  to  be  depended  on.  The  wealoiess  of 
my  eyes  prevents  my  application  to  study,  or  attempt 
at  any  exertion.  I  am  making  no  progress  in  mis- 
sionary work;  I  am  distressed  by  the  appalling 
recollection  of  the  various  business  which  was  press- 
ing me  at  Eangoon,  and  made  me  reluctant  to  leave 
home  for  the  shortest  time.  Now,  I  have  been  de- 
tained twice  as  long  as  I  anticipated,  and  have, 


OF    ADONIRAM    JUDSON.  fJY 

witlial,  wholly  failed  in  my  undertaking.  Where, 
my  rebellious  heart  is  ready  to  cry,  where  is  the 
wisdom  of  all  this  ?  But  it  is  wise,  though  blindness 
cannot  apprehend.  It  is  best,  though  unbelief  is 
disposed  to  mui^mur.  Be  still,  my  soul,  and  know 
that  he  is  God." 

On  his  return,  he  found  the  mission  in  a  mournful 
condition.  About  three  months  after  he  left  for 
Chittagong,  Mr.  Hough  was  summoned  to  appear  at 
the  court-house,  on  an  order  which  appeared  to  have 
reference  to  some  Portuguese  priests,  who  had 
been  banished  by  the  king.  After  giving  assurance 
that  he  was  not  one  of  them,  he  was  meanly  detained 
by  the  officers,  who  vainly  hoped,  thereby,  to  extort 
ransom  money.  He  was  finally  released,  through 
the  bold  and  strenuous  exertions  of  Mrs.  Judson, 
who  persuaded  her  teacher  to  draw  up  a  petition, 
which  she  presented  to  the  viceroy. 

Just  before  this  arrest,  news  came  from  Chitta- 
gong, that  neither  Mr.  Judson  nor  the  vessel  in 
which  he  sailed,  had  reached  that  port:  and,  soon 
after  the  viceroy's  order  to  have  Mr.  Hough  released 
was  executed,  intelligence  was  received  that  a  war 
was  expected,  immediately,  between  the  English  and 
Burman  goveniments.  The  cholera  was  raging  at 
Rangoon,  which  caused  additional  alarm,  and  there 
seemed  but  little  inducement,  for  foreigners  at  least, 
to  remain.  The  poor  natives  were  rapidly  thinning 
before  the  awful  malady ;  English  traders  were  clos- 
ing business,  and  hurrying  out  of  the  country;  and 


68  AbONIRAM  JTJDSON. 

all  but  one  ship  had,  at  length,  left  the  river.  That 
one  was  about  to  sail ;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hough 
readily  decided  to  flee  in  her  to  Bengal,  with  the 
printing  press.  Thej  also,  after  much  entreaty, 
persuaded  Mrs.  Judson  to  go  on  board.  The  ship 
sailed  on  the  5th  of  July,  but  met  with  several  days' 
detention,  before  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  river. 
While  delayed,  Mrs.  Judson,  led  by  that  "  instinct 
which  seems  to  guide  the  noblest  natures  in  great 
emergencies,"  decided  to  return  to  Rangoon,  and 
remain  alone  in  the  mission-house,  until  she  should 
welcome  her  husband,  or  ascertain  his  doom.  It 
was  a  bold  decision,  difficult  to  be  paralleled  in 
the  annals  of  female  courage ;  nor  was  it  less  fortu- 
nate than  heroic.  Her  constancy  was  soon  rewarded, 
for  it  was  but  a  few  days  before  Mr.  Judson  returned. 


CHAPTER    YI. 


Appointment  of  Messrs.  Colman  and  Wheelock  —  Erection  of  a  Zayat  —  Early 
Labors  thereat  — Conversion  and  Baptism  of  Moung  Nau  — Death  of  the 
King —  Revision  of  the  First  Tract  —  Death  of  Mr.  Wheelock. 

At  the  first  triennial  meeting  of  the  Convention, 
held  in  May,  1817,  Messrs.  James  Colman  and 
Edward  W.  Wheelock,  both  residents  of  Boston, 
offered  themselves  as  missionaries.  They  were  ac- 
cepted by  the  Board;  sailed  in  the  following  No- 
vember; arrived  at  Calcutta  in  April,  1818;  and, 
after  four  months'  delay,  recmbarked,  and  reached 
Rangoon  on  the  19th  of  September.  Their  arrival 
was  opportune,  and  gave  occasion  for  much  rejoicing 
to  Mr.  Judson.  He  had  toiled  alone,  since  his  return 
fi'om  Chittagong,  with  all  the  disadvantages  attendant 
on  the  removal  of  the  printing  press  to  Bengal.  But, 
however  somber  the  night  that  had  hung  over  the 
mission,  he  was  full  of  that  hope,  which  "tints  to- 
morrow with  prophetic  ray,"  and  hence  had  toiled 
on,   patiently   and    diligently,   looking    to   God  to 


70  THE   MISSIONARY  LABORS 

bring,  in  his  own  good  time,  the  effulgence  of 
returning  day. 

Messrs.  Colman  and  Wheelock  had  hardly  com- 
menced their  studies,  before  their  health  began  to 
fail ;  which  circumstance  greatly  retarded  their  pro- 
gress. The  former  declined  rapidly,  and,  as  will  be 
Been,  w^as  never  permitted  to  do  much  for  the  salva- 
tion of  those  for  whom  he  had  made  an  offering  of 
his  life. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Judson  had  become  such  a  Bur- 
man  linguist,  as  to  be  able  to  talk  with  considerable 
ease  and  fluency;  and  he  now  began  to  prosecute 
the  work  preliminary  to  public  preaching.  A  zayat, 
a  building  to  answer  the  purpose  of  a  chapel,*  was 
commenced.  It  was  small,  and  divided  into  three 
parts.  The  first  division  opened  to  the  road,  front- 
ing which  was  no  partition ;  nor  had  it  either  win- 
dows or  doors.  The  second  division  was  a  large 
room,  containing  four  doors  and  four  windows  open- 
ing in  opposite  directions.  The  third  was  merely 
an  entry,  opening  into  the  garden,  and  leading  to 
the  mission-house.  The  first  division  was  of  bam- 
boo and  thatch;  the  second  of  boards.  Mr.  Jud- 
son usually  occupied  the  former ;  Mrs.  Judson  the 
latter. 


*  Zayats,  or  caravansaries,  sometimes  serve  the  triple  purpose  of 
church,  hotel,  and  town-house.  They  do  not,  however,  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  the  stranger  or  traveler,  as  a  hotel,  except  for  shelter. 
Other  wants  are  supplied  at  the  bazaar,  or  by  neighboring  families. 
These  buildings  are  found  in  all  Burman  villages,  and  not  unfre- 
quantly  between  them. 


OF   ADONIEAM   JIJDSON.  71 

This  building,  so  important  to  the  mission,  and 
the  erection  of  which,  on  a  street  lined  with  pa- 
godas, angels  must  have  watched  with  interest,  was 
completed  on  the  24th  of  April,  1819.  The  next 
morning,  which  was  the  Sabbath,  Mr.  Judson  seated 
himself  in  the  open  porch,  under  some  solemn  im- 
pression, as  he  has  informed  the  w^orld,  "  of  the 
great  responsibility  attached  to  my  new  mode  of 
life." 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  missionaries 
collected  at  the  zayat ;  a  number  came  in  from  the 
road,  sufficient  to  make  an  audience  of  about  twenty- 
five  persons,  and  religious  services  were  held.  It  is 
interesting  to  contemplate  this  small  beginning  in 
the  "new  mode"  of  prosecuting  a  great  work.  It 
was  the  first  Sabbath  on  which  public  services  were 
held,  by  American  missionaries,  in  the  Burman  em- 
pire ;  and,  although  but  few  came  to  the  solemn  feast, 
and  none  but  the  missionaries  could  participate  in  its 
joys,  or  appreciate  its  weighty  import,  the  little  band 
of  disciples,  no  doubt,  looked  forward  with  the  eye 
of  faith  to  the  period  when  Burman  voices  would 
join  theirs  in  songs  of  praise,  and  Buriuan  hearts 
respond  to  their  fervent  prayers. 

During  the  first  week  after  the  opening  of  the 
zayat,  several  inquirers  called,  who  seemed  to  be 
earnest  seekers  after  the  truth;  and  one  of  them, 
named  Moung  Xau,  who  came  first  on  the  30th  of 
April,  was  afterward  converted.  He  was  the  first 
Burman  who  embraced  the  new  religion.  When  he 
first  visited  the  zayat,  he  called  daily  for  a  short 


72  THE   MISSIONAKY  LABORS 

time,  and  Lis  convictions  of  sin  seemed  to  deepen 
rapidly.  On  tlie  5tli  of  May,  Mr.  Judson  began,  as 
lie  tliouglit,  to  discover  signs  of  grace  in  his  heart, 
and  wrote  in  his  journal  as  follows :  ''It  seems  al- 
most too  much  to  believe,  that  God  has  begun  to 
manifest  his  grace  to  the  Bnnnans ;  but  this  day  I 
conld  not  resist  the  delightful  conviction,  that  this 
is  really  the  case.  Praise  and  gloiy  be  to  his  name 
forevermore.     Amen." 

The  next  day  Mr.  Judson  made  the  following 
record :  "  Moung  ISTau  was  again  with  me  a  great 
part  of  the  day.  He  apj)ears  to  be  slowly  growing 
in  religious  knowledge,  and  manifests  a  teachable, 
humble  spirit,  ready  to  believe  all  that  Christ  has 
said,  and  obey  all  that  he  has  commanded. 

"  He  is  thirty-iive  years  old,  no  family,  middling 
abilities,  quite  poor,  obliged  to  work  for  his  living, 
and  therefore  his  coming  day  after  day  to  hear  the 
truth,  affords  stronger  evidence  that  it  has  taken 
hold  of  his  mind.  May  the  Lord  graciously  lead 
his  dark  mind  into  all  the  tiTith,  and  cause  him  to 
cleave  inviolably  to  the  blessed  Saviour." 

For  months,  inquirers  continued  to  multiply,  and 
Moung  Nau,  who  was  often  with  Mr.  Judson,  ren- 
dered him  important  assistance  in  explaining  things 
to  new  comers.  Meanwhile,  he  himself  seemed  rap- 
idly advancing  in  cln-istian  knowledge  and  divine 
gi'ace.  The  following  paper,  w^ritten  of  his  own 
accord,  was  read  by  the  missionaries,  after  partaking 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  Y3 

of  the  Lord's  supper,  in  the  evening  of  the  sixth 
of  June: 

"  I,  Moung  Xau,  the  constant  recipient  of  your 
excellent  favor,  approach  your  feet.  Whereas,  my 
lords  three  have  come  to  the  country  of  Burmah, 
not  for  the  j)iirp^^^  ^^  trade,  but  to  preach  the  reli- 
gion of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  eternal  God,  I, 
having  heard  and  understood,  am  with  a  joyftd  mind 
filled  with  love. 

"I  believe  that  the  Divine  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  suf- 
fered death  in  the  place  of  men,  to  atone  for  their 
sins.  Like  a  heavy  laden  man,  I  feel  my  sins  are 
very  many.  The  punishment  of  my  sins  I  deserve 
to  suffer.  Since  it  is  so,  do  you,  sirs,  consider  that 
I,  taking  refuge  in  the  merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  receiving  baj)tism,  in  order  to  become 
his  disciple,  shall  dwell  one  with  yourselves,  a  band 
of  brothers,  in  the  happiness  of  heaven,  and  there- 
fore grant  me  the  ordinance  of  baptism.  It  is 
chrough  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  you,  sirs, 
have  come  by  ship  from  one  country  and  continent 
to  another,  and  that  we  have  met  together.  I  pray 
my  lords  three,  that  a  suitable  day  may  be  ap- 
pointed, and  that  I  may  receive  the  ordinance  of 
baptism. 

"  Moreover,  as  it  is  only  since  I  have  met  with 
you,  sirs,  that  I  have  known  about  the  eternal  God, 
I  venture  to  pray  that  you  will  still  unfold  to  me  the 
religion  of  God,  that  my  old  disposition  may  be 
destroyed,  and  my  new  disposition  improved." 


74  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

After  reading  this  document,  the  missionaries 
voted  to  receive  its  author  into  the  church,  and  he 
was  baptized  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month.  The 
exercises  on  the  occasion,  and  Mr.  Judson's  feelings, 
are  thus  briefly  and  feelingly  recorded  by  his  own 
pen: 

"  There  were  several  strangers  present  at  vforship. 
After  the  usual  course,  I  called  Moung  Nau  before 
me,  read  and  commented  on  an  appropriate  por- 
tion of  Scripture,  asked  him  several  questions  con- 
cerning his  faith,  hope,  and  love,  and  made  the 
baptismal  prayer,  having  concluded  to  have  all  the 
preparatory  exercises  done  in  the  zayat.  We  then 
proceeded  to  a  large  pond  in  the  vicinity,  the  bank 
of  which  is  graced  with  an  enormous  image  of  Gau- 
dama,  and  there  administered  baptism  to  the  first 
Burman  convert.  O,  may  it  prove  the  beginning  of 
a  series  of  baptisms  in  the  Burman  empire,  which 
shall  continue  in  uninterrupted  succession  to  tlie  end 
of  time !  " 

It  is  said,  that  when  Dr.  Carey  led  the  first  Hin- 
doo convert  to  Christianity  into  the  Ganges,  Mr. 
Ward  exclaimed,  with  transport,  ''The  chain  of  caste 
is  broken,  and  who  shall  be  able  to  mend  it  ? "  while 
another  missionary  eloquently  apostrophized  as  fol- 
lows: "Ye  gods  of  stone  and  clay,  did  ye  not 
treinble  when,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  one  of  your  votaries  shook  you  as  dust 
from  his   feet?"     And,  when  Mr.  Judson  bui'ied 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  Y5 

Moung  ISTaii  in  baptism,  scenes  as  sublime  as  the 
crumbling  of  claj-built  gods,  doubtless  passed  be- 
fore his  eje.  Glancing  forward  through  the  vista 
of  coming  years,  he  beheld  "  a  series  of  baptisms  in 
the  Burman  empire,"  wliich  thickened  and  widened 
as  it  progressed,  to  be  interrupted  only  with  the 
interruption  and  cessation  of  time. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1819,  Mr.  Judson  and  his 
associates  celebrated  the  Lord's  sufferings  and  death, 
and  had  the  happiness  of  communing,  for  the  first 
time,  with  a  converted  Burman.  On  that  memora- 
ble occasion,  Mr.  Judson  enjoyed  a  privilege  he  had 
long  desired  and  anxiously  looked  for,  that  of  ad- 
ministering the  Lord's  supper  in  two  languages. 

While  there  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  repentant 
sinner,  so,  in  some  instances,  there  is  great  joy  on 
earth,  on  account  of  a  single  conversion.  Such  was 
the  case  when  Krislmo  embraced  the  truth  —  the 
Hindoo  for  whose  conversion  Dr.  Thomas  labored,  at 
Bengal,  seventeen  years  ;  such  was  emphatically  the 
case,  when  Moung  Xau  made  a  profession  of  faith. 
The  joy  over  the  latter's  conversion,  was  not  limited 
to  the  few  missionaries  who  witnessed  his  baptism, 
and  first  communed  with  him  at  the  Lord's  table ;  it 
was  not  limited  to  the  East;  when  the  news  of  it 
reached  America,  a  thrill  of  joy  ran  through  every 
heart  that  had  breathed  its  desires  at  a  throne  of 
gi-ace  for  the  success  of  missions.  We  once  heard  a 
gentleman  remark,  that  when  the  pastor  of  a  Baptist 
church  in  the  eastern  part  of  Xew  H  mpshire,  read 
to  his  congregation,  in   a  conference  meeting,  the 


76  THE    MISSIONARY    LABORS 

acconnt  of  this  heatlien's  conversion,  an  aged  and  very 
pious  deacon,  wliose  contributions  had  been  liberally 
made  for  missions,  sprang  upon  his  feet  and  ex- 
claimed, "  I  've  a  brother  in  Burmah  !  I  've  a  brother 
in  Burmah ! "  and,  as  he  repeated  these  words,  he 
pressed  his  hands  to  his  face,  and  the  tears  oozed 
through  his  fingers.  This  anecdote  beautifully  illus- 
trates the  principle,  that  one's  happiness,  in  the  suc- 
cess of  an  enterprise,  depends  upon  the  interest  he 
takes  in  it,  and  the  freeness  with  which  he  con- 
tributes to  carry  it  forward.  "The  truly  generous " 
is  not  only  the  "  truly  wise,"  as  Home  asserts,  but  the 
truly  happy. 

During  the  months  of  May  and  June,  while  the 
missionaries  had  been  cheered  and  encouraged  by 
the  visits  of  inquirers,  they  were  also  visited,  repeat- 
edly, by  a  more  annoying  class,  namely,  tax-gatherers : 
their  demands  it  was  not  deemed  proper  to  dispute, 
though  they  were  extremely  vexatious. 

In  the  latter  month,  the  missionaries  learned  that 
the  king  had  "gone  up  to  amuse  himself  in  the 
celestial  regions;"  or,  in  truer  English,  had  gone 
down  to  an  idolater's  hopeless  grave.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  grandson — mentioned  in  a  pre- 
vious chapter  —  who  put  one  uncle  to  death,  and 
imprisoned  another,  in  order  to  clear  the  way  to  the 
throne. 

Aside  from  attending  to  the  inquiries  of  daily  new 
comers  at  the  zayat,  Mr.  Judson  revised  his  first 
tract,  in  the  month  of  July,  and  enlarged  it  by  add- 
ing several  prayers  and  some  other  matter.    The 


OF  ADONIRAM   JFDSOX.  77 

new  ecliiion  was  called,  a  "  Yiew  of  the-  Cliristian 
Religion,  in  four  j^arts  —  Historical,  Practical,  Pre- 
cej^tive,  and  Devotional."  It  was  sent  to  Serani- 
pore,  where  Mr.  Hough  printed  an  edition  of  live 
thousand  copies,  which  was  five  times  the  number 
of  the  original  edition. 

In  August,  1819,  the  mission  met  with  its  first 
loss  of  laborers.  On  the  7th  of  that  month,  Mr. 
"Wheelock,  whose  health,  as  we  have  before  stated, 
began  to  decline  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Rangoon, 
embarked  for  Bengal,  in  a  very  low  state.  On  the 
voyage  he  was  deprived  of  reason  by  a  violent  fever ; 
and  in  this  state,  on  the  20th,  plunged  into  the  sea, 
and  disappeared,  there  to  await  its  giving  up  of  the 
dead.  He  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-three. 
One  of  the  first  to  respond  to  the  appeal  of  the 
Burman  apostle  for  assistant  reapers,  he  was  the 
first  to  respond  to  the  call  of  Providence,  to  lay  his 
sickle  aside ;  and  his  name  is  written  at  the  head 
of  a  martyr-roll,  which  embraces  many  of  the  tme 
heroes  of  the  age,  whose  memory  will  be  sacred  to 
the  family  of  Christ  in  all  coming  time. 

Mrs.  Wheelock,  who  was  with  her  husband  when 
he  perished,  proceeded  to  Bengal,  where  she  was 
subsequently  married  to  Mr.  Jones,  of  Calcutta. 
Thus  the  station  at  Rangoon  was  early  deprived  of 
two  of  its  missionaries. 


CHAPTEE  YII 


New  Inquirers,  with  a  Description  of  one  of  Them  — More  Baptisms  —  Signs  of 
Persecution  — Mr.  Judson  decides  to  visit  the  King. 

Among  the  persons  who  frequented  the  zayat  in 
the  autumn  of  1819,  were  Moung  Thah-lah,  Moung 
Byaa,  and  Moung  Shwa-Gnong.  The  last  was  a 
teacher,  a  man  of  learning,  and  a  skeptic.  As  he 
will  be  frequently  mentioned  hereafter,  we  transcribe 
some  portions  of  Mr.  Judson's  journal,  relating  to 
his  visits,  character,  &c.  He  first  came  to  the  zayat 
on  the  26th  of  August : 

"August  27.  The  teacher  Moung  Shwa-Gnong 
came  again,  and  stayed  from  noon  till  quite  dark, 
"We  conversed  incessantly  the  whole  time ;  but  I  fear 
that  no  real  impression  is  made  on  his  proud,  skepti- 
cal heart.  lie,  however,  promised  to  pray  to  the 
eternal  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  appeared  at 
times  to  be  in  deep  thought.  He  is  a  man  of  very 
superior  argumentative  powers.  His  conversation 
would  ])robably  shake  the  faith  of  many." 


AUONIRAM   JUDSON.  79 

"  September  3.  A  great  crowd  of  company  through 
the  whole  day ;  the  teacher,  Moung  Shwa-Gnong, 
from  ten  o'clock  till  quite  dark,  with  several  of  his 
adherents.  He  is  a  complete  Proteus  in  religion,  and 
I  never  know  where  to  find  him.  We  went  over  a 
vast  deal  of  ground,  and  ended  where  we  began,  in 
apparent  incredulity. 

''  After  he  was  gone,  Moung  Ing,  who  has  been 
listening  all  day,  followed  me  home  to  the  house, 
being  invited  to  stay  with  Moung  Nau  through  the 
night.  We  conversed  all  the  evening,  and  his  expres- 
sions have  satisfied  us  all,  that  he  is  one  of  God's 
chosen  people.  His  exercises  have  been  of  a  much 
stronger  character  than  those  of  the  others,  and  he 
expresses  himself  in  the  most  decided  manner.  He 
desires  to  become  a  disciple  in  profession,  as  well  as 
heart,  and  declares  his  readiness  to  suffer  persecution 
and  death  for  the  love  of  Christ.  When  I  stated  the 
danger  to  which  he  w^as  exposing  himself,  and  asked 
him  whether  he  loved  Christ  better  than  his  own  life, 
he  replied,  very  deliberately  and  solemnly,  '  When  I 
meditate  on  this  religion,  I  Imow  not  what  it  is  to 
love  my  own  life.'  Thus  the  poor  fisherman,  Moung 
Ing,  is  taken,  while  the  learned  teacher,  Moung 
Shwa-Gnong,  is  left." 

"September  11.  Moung  Shwa-Gnong  has  been 
with  me  all  day.  It  appears  that  he  accidentally 
obtained  the  idea  of  an  eternal  Being,  about  eight 
years  ago  ;  and  it  has  been  floating  about  in  his  mind 
and  disturbing  his  Buddhist  ideas  ever  since.    When 


80  THE    MISSIONARY   LAEOES 

he  heard  of  iis,  which  was  through  one  of  his  adher- 
ents, to  whom  I  had  given  a  tract,  this  idea  received 
considerable  confirmation ;  and  to-day  he  has  fully 
admitted  the  truth  of  this  first  grand  principle.  The 
latter  part  of  the  day,  we  were  chiefly  employed  in 
discussing  the  possibility  and  necessity  of  a  divine 
revelation,  and  the  evidence  which  proves  that  the 
writings  of  the  apostles  of  Jesus  contain  that  revela- 
tion ;  and  I  think  I  may  say,  that  he  is  half  inclined 
to  admit  all  this.  He  is  certainly  a  most  interesting 
case.  The  way  seems  to  be  prepared  in  his  mind,  for 
the  special  oj^eration  of  divine  grace.  Come,  Holy 
Spirit,  heavenly  Dove ! 

"  His  conversion  seems  peculiarly  desirable,  on  ac- 
count of  his  superior  talents  and  extensive  acquain- 
tance with  Burman  and  Pali  literature.  He  is  the 
most  powerful  reasoner  I  have  yet  met  with  in  thia 
country,  excepting  my  old  teacher,  Oo  Oungmen, 
(now  dead,)  and  he  is  not  at  all  inferior  to  him." 

In  the  evening  of  October  23d,  Moung  Thah-lah 
and  Moung  Byaa  presented  Mr.  Judson  a  paper,  con- 
taining their  profession  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  a 
request  to  be  privately  baptized.  The  peculiarity  of 
this  request  was  doubtless  owing  to  fears  of  persecu- 
tion and  death,  a  renunciation  of  Buddhism  forfeiting 
life. 

Moung  Shwa-Gnong  began  about  this  time  to  be 
troubled  in  the  same  way.  After  an  absence  of  three 
weeks,  he  called  on  Mr.  Judson  October  29th,  but 
appeared  less  eager  to  investigate  religious  truth,  and 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  81 

was  quite  anxious  to  curtail  his  visit.  Some  one,  it 
seems,  had  mentioned  him  to  the  viceroy  as  an  aban- 
doner  of  Buddhism,  and  the  informant  was  ordered 
to  make  further  inquiries  about  him.  Learning  this 
fact,  Moung  Shwa-Gnong  became  alarmed,  and  went 
to  the  Mangen  teacher,  and  doubtless  made  apologies 
as  well  as  ex2:)lanations. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  Moung  Thah-lah  and 
Moung  Bvaa  again  petitioned  for  baptism.  Their 
first  request  had  been  deferred,  not  because  the  mis- 
sionaries could  gain  no  evidence  that  they  possessed 
divine  grace,  but  because  their  love  for  Christ  had 
not  become  strong  enough  to  overcome  the  fears  of 
martyrdom.  They  had  been  recommended  to  wait, 
and  prayerfully  reconsider  the  matter.  In  their  sec- 
ond petition,  they  requested  to  be  baptized  at  sunset, 
in  as  secluded  a  place  as  was  convenient.  "  We 
spent  some  hours,"  writes  Mr.  Judson.  "in  again  dis- 
cussing the  subject  with  them,  and  with  one  another. 
We  felt  satisfied  that  they  were  humble  disciples  ot 
Jesus,  and  were  desirous  of  receiving  this  ordinance, 
purely  out  of  regard  to  his  command,  and  their  own 
spiritual  welfare;  we  felt,  that  we  were  all  equally 
exposed  to  danger,  and  needed  a  spirit  of  mutual 
candor,  and  forbearance,  and  sympathy ;  we  were 
convinced  that  they  were  influenced  rather  by  desires 
of  avoiding  unnecessary  exposure,  than  by  that  sinful 
fear,  which  would  plunge  them  into  apostasy  in 
the  hour  of  trial ;  and  when  they  assured  us,  that, 
if  actually  brought  before  government,  they  could 
not  think  of  denying  their  Savio;ir,  we  could  not 


82  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

conscientiously  refuse  their  request,  and  therefore 
agreed  to  have  them  baptized  to-morrow  at  sunset." 

The  scene  which  the  twilight  of  the  next  day  — 
the  Sabbath  —  witnessed,  was  one  of  uncommon 
interest,  and  is  briefly  described  by  Mr.  Judson,  in  a 
strain  of  rare  beauty.  The  little  company  of  wor- 
shipers at  the  zayat  had  dispersed,  when,  about  half 
an  hour  before  sunset,  the  two  candidates  returned, 
accompanied  by  three  or  four  of  their  friends.  A 
short  prayer  was  offered,  and  the  little  band  resorted 
to  the  spot  consecrated  by  the  baptism  of  Moung 
ISTau.  "  Tlie  sun  was  not  allowed  to  look  upon  the 
humble,  timid  profession.  'No  wondering  crowd 
crowned  the  overshadowing  hill.  No  hymn  of  praise 
expressed  the  exultant  feelings  of  joyous  hearts. 
Stillness  and  solemnity  pervaded  the  scene.  We 
felt,  on  the  banks  of  the  water,  as  a  little,  feeble,  soli- 
tary band.  But,  perhaps,  some  hovering  angels  took 
note  of  the  event,  with  more  interest  than  they  wit- 
nessed the  late  coronation;  perhaps  Jesus  looked 
down  on  us,  pitied  and  forgave  our  weaknesses,  and 
marked  us  for  his  own ;  perhaps,  if  we  deny  Him  not, 
He  will  acknowledge  us  another  day,  more  publicly 
than  we  venture,  at  present,  to  acknowledge  Him." 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  missionaries 
sat  down  at  the  table  of  the  Lord  with  the  newly 
baptized  converts,  and  enjoyed  the  gracious  presence 
of  their  Saviour.  Three  days  after,  in  the  evening, 
when  Mr.  eTudson  met,  with  the  three  converts,  for 
prayer,  two  of  them  took  part  in  the  exercises,  making 
"  a  little  beginning,  such  as  must  be  expected  from  the 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  83 

first  essay  of  converted  heathens."  In  the  evening 
of  the  14th,  four  days  later,  the  three  converts  re- 
paired to  the  zayat  of  their  own  accord,  and  held  a 
similar  meeting  among  themselves  ;  a  trifling  circum- 
stance, it  may  seem,  in  the  eyes  of  some,  but  it  was 
recorded  by  Mr.  Judson  as  a  memorable  incident, 
and  justly  viewed  as  a  happy  omen. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  Mr.  Judson  received  an- 
other visit  from  Moung  Shwa-Gnong,  and  wrote  the 
following  interesting  account  of  it : 

"After  several  hours  sp^nt  in  metaphysical  cavils, 
he  owned  that  he  did  not  believe  any  thing  that  he 
had  said,  and  had  only  been  trying  me  and  the 
religion,  being  determined  to  embrace  nothing  but 
what  he  found  unobjectionable  and  impregnable. 
'  What,'  said  he,  '  do  you  think  that  I  would  pay 
you  the  least  attention,  if  I  found  you  could  not 
answer  all  my  questions,  and  solve  all  my  diflfi- 
culties  ? '  He  then  proceeded  to  say,  that  he  really 
believed  in  God,  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  the  atone- 
ment, &c.  Said  I,  (knowing  his  delstical  weakness,) 
'  Do  you  believe  all  that  is  contained  in  the  book 
of  Matthew,  that  I  have  given  you?  In  particular, 
do  you  believe  that  the  Son  of  God  died  on  a  cross  ? ' 
'  Ah,'  replied  he,  '  you  have  caught  me  now.  I  be- 
lieve that  he  suffered  death,  but  I  can  not  admit 
that  he  suffered  the  shameful  death  of  the  cross.' 
'  Therefore,'  said  I,  '  you  are  not  a  discij^le  of  Christ. 
A  true  disciple  inquires  not  whether  a  fact  i?  agree- 
able to  his  own  reason,  but,  whether  it  is  in  the  book. 


84  THE  MISSIONABY  LABORS 

His  pride  has  yielded  to  divine  testimony.  Teacher, 
your  pride  is  still  unbroken.  Break  down  your 
pride,  and  yield  to  the  word  of  God.'  He  stopped 
and  thought.  '  As  you  utter  these  words,'  said  he, 
*  I  see  my  error ;  1  have  been  trusting  in  my  own 
reason,  not  in  the  word  of  God.'  Some  interruption 
now  occurred.  When  we  were  again  alone,  he  said, 
'  This  day  is  different  from  all  days  on  which  I  have 
visited  you.  I  see  my  error  in  trusting  in  my  o%vn 
reason ;  and  I  now  believe  the  crucifixion  of  Christ, 
because  it  is  contained  in  the  Scripture.'  Some  time 
after,  speaking  of  the  uncertainty  of  life,  he  said  he 
thought  he  should  not  be  lost,  though  he  died  sud- 
denly. Why?  '  Because  1  love  Jesus  Christ.'  Do 
you  really  love  him  ?  '  J^o  one  that  really  knows 
him,  can  help  loving  him.'     And  so  he  departed." 

During  the  month  of  November,  the  calls  at  the 
zayat  became  daily  less  frequent,  so  that  by  the  last 
of  the  month  it  was  not  uncommon  for  Mr.  Judson 
to  sit  a  whole  day  without  being  visited.  His  object 
had  become  gradually  known  in  Kangoon  and  the 
neighboring  country  ;  curiosity  had  abated,  and  fear 
kept  serious  inquirers  away. 

The  missionaries  had  received  no  serious  disturb- 
ance while  living  in  retirement,  but  when  the  zayat 
was  opened  on  a  road  noted  for  the  number  of  its 
pagodas,  and  the  natives  commenced  thronging  it 
for  religious  instruction,  the  government  began  to 
be  suspicious.  Mr.  Judson  now  became  convinced 
that  banishment  or  death  would,  ere  that  date,  have 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  85 

been  the  fate  of  himself  and  his  associates,  had  the 
ecclesiastical  leaders  supposed  the  new  religion  would 
meet  with  general  favor  among  the  people.  He  con- 
cluded that  it  would  be  necessary,  in  order  to  his 
success,  to  visit  the  emperor  at  Amarapura,  at  that 
time  the  capital  of  the  country,  and  frankly  make 
loiown  the  object  of  his  mission  to  Burmah,  and 
ask  for  the  toleration  of  the  religion  he  had  como 
to  teach. 


CHAPTER    Ylll. 


Messrs.  Judson  and  Colman  embark  for  the  Capital  —Voyage  up  the  Irravvaddy— 
Introduction  to  the  King  — Ilis  Rejection  of  their  Petition  — They  return  to 
Rangoon  —  Interview  with  the  Native  Converts  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colman  go  to 
Chittagong  —  Death  of  Mr.  Cohnan. 

Having  made  arrangements  necessary  for  the  com- 
fort of  tlieir  families,  Messrs.  Judson  and  Colman 
embarked  for  the  seat  of  Burman  dynasty,  on  the 
22d  of  December,  1819.  The  company  consisted  of 
sixteen  persons  besides  themselves;  ten  rowmen,  a 
steersman,  a  headsman,  Moung  Nau,  who  acted  as 
stcM^ard  for  the  company,  a  cook  for  the  missiona- 
ries, a  washerman,  and  an  Englishman,  who  took 
charge  of  the  guns  and  blunderbusses.  These  wea- 
pons were  indisjDensable,  the  river  being  infested  with 
robbers.  The  missionaries  took  with  them  a  Bible 
in  six  volumes,  elegantly  bound,  and  each  volume 
enclosed  in  a  richly  ornamented  wrapper,  as  a  pres- 
ent to  the  emperor ;  also  several  pieces  of  fine  cloth, 
and  some  other  articles,  for  the  members  of  the 
government.* 

*  The  organs  of  the  Burraan  administration,  and  higher  orders 
of  nobility,  ai-e  the  woongyees,  and  the  atwenwoons.      The  former 


ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  87 

On  the  iTth  of  January,  1820,  tliey  reached  Pah- 
gan,  a  celebrated  city,  between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred miles  from  Rangoon.  It  was  the  seat  of  a  for- 
mer dynasty.  The  next  day  Mr.  Judson  strolled 
among  its  extensive  ruins,  and  surveyed  its  pagodas 
and  other  monuments  of  idolatiy  and  decaying  splen- 
dor. He  ascended,  he  says,  "as  far  as  possible, 
some  of  the  highest  edifices,  and  at  the  height  of  one 
hundred  feet,  perhaps,  beheld  all  the  country  around, 
covered  with  temples  and  monuments  of  every  sort 
and  size  —  some  in  utter  mm  —  some  fast  decaying, 
—  and  some  exhibiting  marks  of  recent  attention 
and  repair.  The  remains  of  the  ancient  wall  of 
the  city  stretched  beneath  us.  The  pillars  of  the 
gates,  and  many  a  grotesque,  decapitated  relic  ot 
antiquity,  checkered  the  motley  scene.  All  con- 
spired to  suggest  those  elevated  and  mournfiil  ideas, 
w^hich  are  attendant  on  a  view  of  the  decaying  remains 
of  ancient  grandem- ;  and  though  not  comparable  to 
such  ruins  as  those  of  Palmyra  and  Balbec,  (as  they 
are  represented,)  still,  deeply  interesting  to  the  anti- 
quary, and  more  deeply  interesting  to  the  christian 
missionary.  Here,  about  eight  hundred  years  ago, 
the  religion  of  Buddh  w^as  first  publicly  recognized 
and  established  as  the  religion  of  the  empire. 

rank  next  to  the  royal  family  ;  are  the  public  ministers  of  state,  and 
constitute  the  supreme  court.  They  issue  the  royal  edicts  in  theit 
own  name.  Their  number  is  usually  four,  never  more  than  six.  The 
atwenwoons  are  the  cabinet  officers  or  private  counselors,  and  usually 
the  same  in  number  as  the  woongyees.  Their  offices  are  not  hered- 
itary, and  they  often  rise  from  obscuritj.  Kingship  is  the  onlj 
inherited  honor  in  the  empire. 


88  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

"  Here,  then,  Ah-rah-han,  the  first  Buddhist  apos- 
tle of  Burmah,  under  the  patronage  of  King  Anan- 
ra-tha-men-zan,  disseminated  the  doctrines  of  atheism, 
and  taught  his  disciples  to  pant  after  annihilation,  as 
the  supreme  good.  Some  of  the  ruins  before  our 
eyes  were  probably  the  remains  of  pagodas  designed 
by  himself.  We  looked  back  on  the  centuries  of 
darlmess  that  are  past.  We  looked  forward,  and 
christian  hope  would  fain  brighten  the  prospect. 
Perhaps  we  stand  on  the  dividing  line  of  the  empires 
of  darkness  and  light.  O,  shade  of  Shen  Ah-rah- 
han !  weep  o'er  thy  fallen  fanes ;  retire  from  the 
scenes  of  thy  past  greatness.  But  thou  smilest  at 
my  feeble  voice.  Linger,  then,  thy  little  remaining 
day.  A  voice  mightier  than  mine,  a  still,  small  voice, 
will  ere  long  sweep  away  every  vestige  of  thy  do- 
minion. The  churches  of  Jesus  will  soon  supplant 
these  idolatrous  monuments,  and  the  chanting  of  the 
devotees  of  Buddh  will  die  away  before  the  christian 
hymn  of  praise." 

On  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  they  passed  Ava, 
the  seat  of  the  dynasty  that  immediately  preceded 
that  at  Amarapura ;  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  came  in  sight  of  the  capital,  distant  nearly  four 
hundred  miles  from  Rangoon.  The  next  day  they 
gazed  upon  its  glittering  pagodas,  and  the  dazzling 
steeple  of  the  palace,  whither  they  were  about  to 
"  prostrate  themselves  at  the  golden  feet,"  as  their 
visit  to  the  emperor  would  be  called  by  Orientals. 
The  introduction  of  the  missionaries  at  the  Bm-man 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  89 

court  is  best  described  by  the  graj)liic  pen  of  Mr. 
Judson : 

"  January  27.  We  left  the  boat,  and  put  ourselves 
under  the  conduct  of  Moung  Yo."^'  He  carried  us  first 
to  Mya-dav-men,  as  a  matter  of  form ;  and  there  we 
learned  that  the  emperor  had  been  privately  apprised 
of  our  arrival,  and  said,  '  Let  them  be  introduced.' 
We  therefore  proceeded  to  the  palace.  At  the  outer 
gate  we  were  detained  a  long  time,  until  the  various 
ofiicers  were  satisfied  that  we  had  a  right  to  enter, 
after  which  we  deposited  a  present  for  the  private  min- 
ister of  state,  Moung  Zah,  and  were  ushered  into  his 
apartments  in  the  palace  yard.  He  received  us  very 
pleasantly,  and  ordered  us  to  sit  before  several 
governors  and  petty  kings,  who  were  waiting  at  his 
levee.  We  here,  for  the  first  time,  disclosed  our 
character  and  object;  told  him,  that  we  were  mis- 
sionaries, or  '  propagators  of  religion ;'  that  we  wished 
to  appear  before  the  emperor,  and  present  our  sacred 
books,  accompanied  with  a  petition.  He  took  the 
petition  into  his  hand,  looked  over  about  half  of  it, 
and  then  familiarly  asked  several  questions  about  our 
God  and  our  religion,  to  which  we  replied.  Just  at 
this  crisis,  some  one  announced  that  the  golden  foot 
was  about  to  advance ;  on  which  the  minister  hastily 
rose  up,  and  put  on  his  robes  of  state,  saying,  that  he 
must  seize  the  moment  to  present  us  to  the  emperor. 
We  now  found,  that  we  had  unwittingly  fallen  on  an 

*  Moung  Yo  was  a  favorite  officer  of  Mya-day-men,  who  was  a 
■woongyee,  or  minister  of  state,  and  formerly  viceroy  of  Rangoon. 


90  THE  MISSIONAET  LABORS 

Tinpropitious  time,  it  being  the  day  of  the  celebration 
of  the  late  victory  over  the  Cassays,  and  the  very 
hour  when  his  majesty  was  coming  forth  to  witness 
the  display  made  on  the  occasion.  When  the  minis- 
ter was  dressed,  he  just  said,  '  How  can  you  propa- 
gate religion  in  this  empire?  But,  come  along.' 
Our  hearts  sunk  at  these  inauspicious  words.  He 
conducted  us  through  various  splendor  and  parade, 
until  we  ascended  a  flight  of  stairs,  and  entered  a 
most  magnificent  hall.  He  directed  us  where  to  sit, 
and  took  his  place  on  one  side ;  the  present  w^as 
placed  on  the  other,  and  Moung  Yo,  and  another 
ofiicer  of  Mya-day-men,  sat  a  little  behind.  The 
scene  to  which  we  were  now  introduced  really  sur- 
passed om-  expectation.  The  spacious  extent  of  the 
hall,  the  number  and  magnitude  of  the  pillars,  the 
height  of  the  dome,  the  whole  completely  covered 
with  gold,  presented  a  most  grand  and  imposing  spec- 
tacle. Yery  few  were  present,  and  those  evidently 
were  great  officers  of  state.  Our  situation  prevented 
us  from  seeing  the  further  avenue  of  the  hall ;  but 
the  end  where  we  sat  opened  into  the  parade  which 
the  emperor  was  about  to  inspect.  We  remained 
about  five  minutes,  when  every  one  put  himself  in 
the  most  respectful  attitude,  and  Moung  Yo  w^his- 
pered,  that  his  majesty  had  entered.  We  looked 
through  the  hall,  as  far  as  the  pillars  would  allow, 
and  presently  caught  sight  of  this  modern  Ahasuerus, 
He  came  forward  unattended  —  in  solitary  grandeur, 
exhibiting  the  proud  gait  and  majesty  of  an  eastern 
monarch.     His  dress  was  rich,  but  not  distinctive, 


OF   ADOXIEAM   JUDSON.  91 

and  he  carried  m  liis  hand  the  gold-sheathed  sword, 
which  seems  to  have  taken  the  place  of  the  scepter 
of  ancient  times.  But  it  was  his  high  aspect  and 
commanding  eye,  that  chiefly  riveted  our  attention. 
He  strided  on.  Every  head,  excepting  ours,  was 
now  in  the  dust.  AV"e  remained  kneeling,  our  hands 
folded,  our  eyes  fixed  on  the  monarch.  AVhen  he 
di*ew  near,  we  caught  his  attention.  He  stopped, 
partly  turned  toward  us  :  '  AV  ho  are  these  'i '  The 
teachers,  great  king,  I  rei^lied.  'What,  you  speak 
Burman  —  the  jDriests  that  I  heard  of  last  night  'i ' 
'  When  did  you  arrive  ? '  '  Are  you  teachers  of  relig- 
ion ? '  '  Are  you  like  the  Portuguese  priest  ? '  '  Are 
you  married  i '  '  Why  do  you  dress  so  ? '  These, 
and  some  other  similar  questions,  we  answered ; 
when  he  appeared  to  be  pleased  with  us,  and  sat 
down  on  an  elevated  seat  —  his  hand  resting  on  the 
hilt  of  his  sword,  and  his  eyes  intently  fixed  on  us. 
Moung  Zah  now  began  to  read  the  petition,  and  it 
ran  thus : 

"'The  American  teachers  present  themselves  to 
receive  the  favor  of  the  excellent  king,  the  sovereign 
of  land  and  sea.  Hearing,  that,  on  account  of  the 
greatness  of  the  royal  power,  the  royal  country  was 
in  a  quiet  and  prosperous  state,  we  arrived  at  the 
town  of  Eangoon,  within  the  royal  dominions,  and 
having  obtained  leave  of  the  governor  of  that  town, 
to  come  up  and  behold  the  golden  face,  we  have 
ascended  and  reached  the  bottom  of  the  golden  feet. 
In  the  great  country  of  America,  we  sustain  the 
character  of  teachers  and  explainers  of  the  contents 


^2  THE   MISSIONAET   LABORS 

of  tlie  sacred  scriptures  of  our  religion.  And  since 
it  is  contained  in  those  scriptures,  that,  if  we  j^ass 
to  other  countries,  and  preach  and  propagate  relig- 
ion, great  good  will  result,  and  both  those  who 
teach  and  those  who  receive  the  religion,  will  be 
freed  from  future  punishment,  and  enjoy,  without 
decay  or  death,  the  eternal  felicity  of  heaven, —  that 
royal  permission  be  given,  that  we,  taking  refuge  in 
the  royal  power,  may  preach  our  religion  in  these 
dominions,  and  that  those  who  are  pleased  with  our 
})reaching,  and  wish  to  listen  to  and  be  guided  by  it, 
whether  foreigners  or  Burmans,  may  be  exempt  from 
government  molestation,  they  present  themselves  to 
receive  the  favor  of  the  excellent  king,  the  sovereign 
of  land  and  sea.' 

"The  emperor  heard  this  petition,  and  stretched 
out  his  hand.  Moung  Zah  crawled  forward  and  pre- 
sented it.  His  majesty  began  at  the  top,  and  delib- 
erately read  it  through.  In  the  meantime,  I  gave 
Moung  Zah  an  abridged  copy  of  the  tract,  in  which 
every  oiFensive  sentence  was  corrected,  and  the  whole 
put  into  the  handsomest  style  and  dress  possible. 
After  the  emperor  had  perused  the  petition,  he 
handed  it  back,  without  saying  a  word,  and  took 
the  tract.  Our  hearts  now  rose  to  God,  for  a  display 
of  his  grace.  '  O  have  mercy  on  Burmah !  Have 
mercy  on  her  king ! '  But,  alas  !  the  time  was  not 
yet  come.  He  held  the  tract  long  enough  to  read  the 
first  two  sentences,  which  assert  that  there  is  one 
eternal  God,  who  is  independent  of  the  incidents  of 
mortality,  and  that,  beside  Him,  there  is  no  God; 


OF   ADONIRAM   JTJDSON.  93 

and  then,  with  an  air  of  indifference,  perhaps  dis- 
dain, he  dashed  it  down  to  the  ground !  Moung  Zah 
stooped  forward,  picked  it  np,  and  handed  it  to  ns. 
Moung  Yo  made  a  slight  attempt  to  save  us,  by  un- 
folding one  of  the  volumes  which  composed  our  pres- 
ent, and  displaying  its  beauty ;  but  his  majesty  took 
no  notice.  Our  fate  was  decided.  After  a  few  mo- 
ments, Moung  Zah  interpreted  his  royal  master's  will, 
in  the  following  terms  :  '  Why  do  you  ask  for  such 
permission  ?  Have  not  the  Portuguese,  the  English, 
the  Musselmans,  and  people  of  all  other  religions,  full 
liberty  to  practise  and  worship  according  to  their  own 
customs  ?  In  regard  to  the  objects  of  yom-  petition, 
his  majesty  gives  no  order.  In  regard  to  your  sacred 
books,  his  majesty  has  no  use  for  them,  take  them 
away.' 

"Something  was  now  said  about  brother  Col- 
man's  skill  in  medicine;  upon  which  the  emperor 
once  more  opened  his  mouth,  and  said,  '  Let  them 
proceed  to  the  residence  of  my  physician,  the  Por- 
tuguese priest;  let  him  examine  whether  they  can 
be  useful  to  me  in  that  line,  and  report  accordingly.' 
lie  then  rose  from  his  seat,  strided  on  to  the  end  of 
the  hall,  and  there,  after  having  dashed  to  the  ground 
the  first  intelligence  that  he  had  ever  received  of  the 
eternal  God,  his  Maker,  his  Preserver,  his  Judge,  he 
threw  himself  down  on  a  cushion,  and  lay  listening 
to  the  music,  and  gazing  at  the  parade  spread  out 
before  him ! 

"  As  for  us  and  our  present,  we  were  huddled  up 
and  hurried  away,  without  much   ceremony.    "We 


94  THE    MISSIONARY    LABORS 

passed  out  of  the  palace  gates,  with  much  more 
facility  than  we  entered,  and  were  conducted  first  to 
the  house  of  Mya-day-men.  There  his  officer  re- 
ported our  reception,  but  in  as  favorable  terms  as 
possible;  and  as  his  highness  was  not  apprized  of 
our  precise  object,  our  repulse  appeared,  probably,  to 
him,  not  so  decisive,  as  we  knew  it  to  be.  We  were 
next  conducted  two  miles  through  the  sun  and  dust 
of  the  streets  of  Ava,  to  the  residence  of  the  Portu- 
guese priest.  He  very  speedily  ascertained,  that  we 
were  in  possession  of  no  wonderful  secret,  which 
would  secure  the  emperor  from  all  disease,  and  make 
him  live  for  ever ;  and  we  were  accordingly  allowed 
to  take  leave  of  the  reverend  inquisitor,  and  retreat 
to  our  boat. 

"  At  this  stage  of  the  business,  notwithstanding 
the  decided  repulse  we  had  received,  we  still  cher- 
ished some  hope  of  ultimately  gaining  our  point. 
"We  regretted  that  a  sudden  interruption  had  pre- 
vented our  explaining  our  objects  to  Moung  Zah,  in 
that  familiar  and  confidential  manner  which  we  had 
intended;  and  we  determined,  therefore,  to  make 
another  attempt  upon  him  in  private. 

"January  28. — Early  in  the  morning,  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  our  friend  Mr.  Ganger  coming  to 
our  boat.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  mention,  that  he 
is  the  collector,  who  was  chiefly  instrumental  in 
relieving  us  from  the  exorbitant  demand,  which,  a 
few  months  ago,  was  made  upon  us  in  Rangoon. 
He  now  told  us,  that  he  had  heard  of  our  repulse, 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  95 

but  would  not  have  us  give  up  all  hope ;  that  he  was 
particularly  acquainted  with  Moung  Zah,  and  would 
accompany  us  to  his  house,  a  little  before  sunset,  at 
an  hour  when  he  was  accessible.  This  precisely 
accorded  with  our  intentions. 

"We  went  to  the  house  of  Moung  Zah,  some  way 
beyond  the  palace.  He  received  us  with  great 
coldness  and  reserve.  Mr.  Ganger  urged  every 
argument  that  we  suggested,  and  some  others.  He 
finally  stated  that,  if  we  obtained  the  royal  favor, 
other  foreigners  would  come  and  settle  in  the  empire, 
and  trade  would  be  greatly  benefited.  This  argu- 
ment alone  seemed  to  have  efiect  on  the  mind  of  the 
minister,  and,  looking  out  from  the  cloud  which 
covered  his  face,  he  vouchsafed  to  say,  that,  if  we 
would  wait  some  time,  he  would  endeavor  to  speak  to 
his  majesty  about  us.  From  this  remark  it  was  im- 
possible to  derive  any  encouragement,  and  having 
nothing  further  to  urge,  we  left  Mr.  Ganger,  and, 
bowing  down  to  the  ground,  took  leave  of  this  great 
minister  of  state,  who,  under  the  emperor,  guides 
the  movements  of  the  whole  empire. 

"It  was  now  evening.  "We  had  four  miles  to  walk 
by  moonlight.  Two  of  our  disciples  only  followed 
us.  They  had  pressed  as  near  as  they  ventured  to 
the  door  of  the  hall  of  audience,  and  listened  to 
words  which  sealed  the  extinction  of  their  hopes  and 
ours.     For  some  time  we  spoke  not. 

'  Some  natural  tears  we  dropt,  but  wiped  them  soon. 
The  -world  was  all  before  us,  where  to  choose 
Our  place  of  rest,  aud  Providence  our  guide.' 


96  THE   MISSIONARY   LAEOKS 

And,  as  our  first  parents  took  their  solitary  way 
through  Eden,  hand  in  hand,  so  we  took  our  way 
through  this  great  city,  which,  to  our  late  imagina- 
tion, seemed  another  Eden;  but  now,  through  the 
magic  touch  of  disappointment,  seemed  blasted  and 
withered,  as  if  smitten  by  the  fatal  influence  of  the 
cherubic  sword. 

"  Arrived  at  the  boat,  we  threw  ourselves  down, 
completely  exhausted  in  body  and  mind.  For  three 
days,  we  had  walked  eight  miles  a  day,  the  most  of 
the  way  in  the  heat  of  the  sun,  which,  even  at  this 
season,  in  the  interior  of  these  countries,  is  exceed- 
ingly oppressive ;  and  the  result  of  our  travels  and 
toils  has  been — the  wisest  and  best  possible — a 
result  which,  if  we  could  see  the  end  from  the 
beginning,  would  call  forth  our  highest  praise.  O 
slow  of  heart  to  believe  and  trust  in  the  constant 
presence  and  overruling  agency  of  our  almighty 
Saviour!  " 

"With  their  plans  thwarted,  and  their  fond  hopes 
blighted,  the  missionaries  set  out  on  their  return  to 
Rangoon,  on  the  29tli  of  January.  Fourteen  days 
afterward,  they  stopped  for  the  night  at  a  town  called 
Pyee,  where  they  met  Moung  Shwa-Gnong.  He 
had  declined  accompanying  them  to  the  capital,  but 
just  after  they  pushed  off  from  Rangoon,  he  ran  up 
to  the  wharf,  raised  his  hand  to  his  head,  bade  them 
adieu,  and  continued  to  look  after  them,  until  the 
boat  was  lost  behind  a  projecting  point.  His  mis- 
sion to  Pyee  was  professedly  to  visit  a  sick  friend, 


OF  ADONIRAM    JCDSON.  97 

tliougli  it  is  likely  he  had  a  double  object  in  view, 
he  having  a  secret  desire,  no  donbt,  to  meet  the 
missionaries,  and  ascertain  the  result  of  their  visit. 
When  told  that  then-  petition  and  presents  had  been 
trampled  beneath  the  golden  foot^  and  of  the  danger 
that  must  attend  further  efforts  to  propagate  the  new 
religion,  he  manifested  no  serious  alarm,  l^ut  re- 
peated, with  calmness,  and  in  a  firm  voice,  the  most 
prominent  points  of  christian  faith,  and  showed  bv 
all  he  said,  that  he  had  great  interest  in  the  success 
of  the  mission.  Mr.  Judson  hinted  to  him,  that  the 
missionaries  would  probably  leave  Kangoon,  w^lien 
he  replied :  "  Say  not  so ;  there  are  some  who  will 
investigate,  notwithstanding ;  and,  rather  than  have 
you  quit  Rangoon,  I  will  go  to  the  Mangen  teachei 
and  have  a  dispute.  I  know  I  can  silence  him.  ] 
know  the  truth  is  on  my  side."  Hearing  this  re- 
mark, Mr.  Judson  told  him  to  remember  that  the 
Mangen  teacher  had  a  pair  of  fetters  and  an  iron 
mall  as  offsets  to  his  tongue  —  and  thus  ended  the 
conversation. 

Pleased  with  the  appearance  of  Moung  Shwa- 
Gnong,  but  with  spirits  still  dejected,  and  with  no 
hope  of  other  than  divine  countenance  of  their 
sacred  work,  the  missionaries  pushed  on,  and  arrived 
at  Rangoon  on  the  18th  of  February.  Convening 
the  three  disciples  without  delay,  they  narrated  their 
adventures  at  Amarapura,  and  stated  that  they  con- 
templated leaving  Rangoon  and  establishing  a  mis- 
sion, Providence  aiding  them,  in  a  district  between 
Bengal  and  Arracan. 

7 


98  THE  MISSIONARY   LAEOES 

Far  from  being  intimidated  at  tlie  conduct  of  the 
emperor,  the  disciples  began,  with  much  composure 
and  earnestness,  to  explain  away  difficulties,  and  to 
persuade  the  teachers  not  to  look  upon  their  cause  in 
those  parts  as  hopeless.  They  all  entreated  them  not 
to  think  of  abandoning  the  mission;  but,  in  case 
they  should  do  it,  two  of  them,  Moung  ]^au  and 
Moung  Thah-lah,  said  they  should  accompany  them, 
being  determined,  as  one  of  them  remarked,  to  "go 
where  preaching  is  to  be  had."  Moung  Byee  said 
that,  being  a  married  man,  he  could  not  follow  his 
teachers ;  but,  if  left  alone,  he  should  continue  to 
perform  the  duties  of  "Jesus  Christ's  religion." 

Bringing  with  him  a  brother-in-law,  named  Moung 
Myat-yah,  the  last  mentioned  convert  soon  had 
another  interview  with  the  missionaries,  which  Mr. 
Judson  thus  describes : 

"'Teacher,'  said  he,  'my  mind  is  distressed;  I 
can  neither  eat  nor  sleep,  since  I  find  you  are  going 
away.  I  have  been  around  among  those  who  live 
near  us,  and  I  find  some  who  are  even  now  examin- 
ing the  new  religion.  Brother  Myat-yah  is  one  of 
them,  and  he  unites  with  me  in  my  petitions.  (Here 
Myat-yah  assented  that  it  was  so.)  Do  stay  with  us 
a  few  months.  Do  stay  till  there  are  eight  or  ten 
disciples.  Then  appoint  one  to  be  the  teacher  of  the 
rest;  I  shall  not  be  concerned  about  the  event; 
though  you  should  leave  the  country,  the  religion 
will  spread  of  itself  The  emperor  himself  cannot  stop 
it.     But  if  you  go  now,  and  take  the  two  disciples 


OF   ADONLRAM   JUDSON.  99 

that  can  follow,  I  shall  be  left  alone.  I  cannot 
baptize  those  who  may  wish  to  embrace  this  religion. 
"What  can  I  do?'  Monng  Nan  came  in,  and  ex- 
pressed himself  in  a  similar  way.  He  thought  that 
several  w^ould  yet  become  disciples,  notwithstanding 
all  opposition,  and  that  it  was  best  for  ns  to  stay 
awhile.  We  conld  not  restrain  om^  tears  at  hearing 
all  this ;  and  we  told  them,  that,  as  we  lived  only  for 
the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Christ  among  the 
Bm'mans,  if  there  was  any  prospect  of  success  in 
Kangoon,  we  had  no  desire  to  go  to  any  other  place, 
and  would,  therefore,  reconsider  the  matter.'* 

The  result  of  the  reconsideration  was,  that  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Judson  concluded  to  remain,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Colman  to  proceed  to  Chittagong,  and 
there  form  a  station,  as  a  refuge  for  the  missionaries 
and  converts,  should  it  be  found  necessary  for  them 
to  flee  from  Rangoon.  Accordingly,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Colman  embarked  for  Bengal,  in  March,  1820,  and 
arrived  at  Chittagong  in  June.  They  commenced 
their  labors  at  Cox's  Bazaar,  an  unhealthy  town  of 
about  two  thousand  inhabitants.  There  Mr.  Colman 
died  of  the  jungle  fever,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1822. 
His  wife  returned  to  Bengal,  and  was  subsequently 
married  to  Rev.  Amos  Sutton,  an  English  mission- 
ary, who  has  labored  many  years  at  Orissa,  in 
Hindostan. 


CHAPTER   IX 


More  Conversions  — Progress  of  the  Work  of  Tran:?lating  the  New  Testament  — 
Sickness  of  Mrs.  Judson  — Mr.  Judson  repairs  with  her  to  Bengal  — Their 
Return  — The  Native  Converts —Tlie  new  Viceroy —  Moung  Ing— Mrs.  Jud- 
son's  III  Healtli,  and  Departure  for  America  — Clouds  — Tlieir  Dispersion  — 
Arrival  of  Dr.  Price  — Return  of  Mr.  Hough. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  were  once  more  alone  at 
the  Rangoon  station,  with,  dim  prospects  of  being 
permitted  long  to  remain  there.  Defeated  in  his 
attempts  to  secure  the  favor  of  the  emperor,  Mr. 
Judson  would  not  now  be  surprised,  at  any  moment, 
to  receive  orders  to  leave  the  country.  Still,  strong 
inducements  presented  themselves  for  him  to  re- 
main ;  and,  trusting  in  Providence  for  protection,  he 
resolved  to  toil  on,  until  peremptorily  commanded 
to  leave. 

The  converts  were  now  giving  evidence  of  healthy 
spiritual  growth;  the  number  of  inquirers  was  grad- 
ually increasing ;  and  a  few  of  the  latter  class  seemed 
to  be  entering  the  vestibule  of  mercy.  Among  these 
were  Oo  Yan  and  Moung  Shwa-ba.     The  former 


ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  101 

was  a  learned  casuist,  and  a  subtle  and  zealous 
disputer.  His  peculiar  tenets  are  thus  described 
by  Mr.  Judson : 

"  He  was  ready  to  admit,  that  the  atheistic  system 
of  the  Buddhists  was  not  tenable ;  but  endeavored 
to  fortify  himself  on  a  middle  system,  between  that 
and  the  christian ;  the  very  system  in  which  Moung 
Shwa-Gnong  formerly  rested,  and  which,  for  distinc- 
tion's sake,  may  be  fitly  termed  the  semi-atheistic. 
Its  fundamental  doctrine  is,  that  divine  wisdom,  not 
concentrated  in  any  existing  spirit,  or  embodied 
in  any  form,  but  diffused  throughout  the  universe, 
and  partaken  in  different  degrees  by  various  intelli- 
gences, and  in  a  very  high  degree  by  the  Buddhs, 
is  the  true  and  only  God.  This  poor  system,  which 
is  evidently  guilty  of  suicide,  Oo  Yan  made  every 
possible  effort  to  keep  alive ;  but  I  really  think,  that 
in  his  own  mind,  he  felt  the  case  to  be  ho]3eless. 
His  mode  of  reasoning,  however,  is  soft,  insinuating, 
and  acute ;  and  so  adroitly  did  he  act  his  part,  that 
Moung  Shwa-Gnong,  with  his  strong  arm,  and  I, 
with  the  strength  of  truth,  were  scarcely  able  to 
keep  him  down." 

Moung  Shwa-ba  was  introduced  to  Mr.  Judson  by 
Moung  Thah-lah  on  the  21st  of  March,  1820,  and 
three  days  after  gave  clear  evidence  of  conversion. 
He  was  baptized  on  the  20th  of  the  following  month. 

About  this  time,  a  woman,  named  Mali  Men-la, 
who  had  renounced  the  reli"fion  of  Gaudama  s<y'yf> 


102  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

years  before,  a^d  become  semi-atheistic,  was  fre- 
quently at  the  za^^at.  She  had  met  with  Mr.  Jud- 
Bon's  tract  two  years  before,  and  derived  therefrom 
the  idea  of  an  eternal  God.  The  following  brief  ex- 
tract from  Mr.  Judson's  journal,  in  reference  to  her, 
is  very  interesting : 

"April  20.  Mah  Men-la  and  her  fi'iends  have 
i>een  with  Mrs.  Judson  all  day.  She  gives  increas- 
ing evidence  of  being  a  real  discij:)^;  but  is  ex- 
tremely timid,  through  fear  of  persecution.  One  of 
her  remarks  deserves  notice  as  a  natural  expression 
of  true  christian  feeling.  '  I  am  surprised,'  said  she, 
'  to  find  thio  religion  has  such  an  effect  on  my  mind, 
as  to  make  me  love  the  disciples  of  Christ  more  than 
my  dearest  natural  relations.'  She  is  a  woman  of 
very  superior  discernment  and  mental  energy.  One 
of  the  women  who  have  frequently  accompanied  her 
in  her  visits,  mot  with  a  tract  at  old  Pegu,  about  six 
weeks  ago,  and  came  all  the  way  to  Rangoon,  chiefly, 
she  says,  on  that  account." 

On  the  day  that  he  penned  the  above  remarks, 
Mr.  Judson  finislied  the  translation  of  Ephesians, 
which  he  had  commenced  before  going  to  Amara- 
pura,  but  had  been  obliged  to  relinquish,  on  account 
of  weakness  of  the  eyes.  At  the  same  date,  he  had 
the  book  of  Acts  under  way,  and  declared  his  inten- 
tion to  give  it  to  the  young  puj)ils  in  the  school  of 
Christ  as  fast  as  he  possibly  could.  Heretofore,  he 
could  give  them  only  the  gospel  of  Matthew ;  now, 


OF  ADONIKAM  JUD^OX.  103 

lie  had  the  hapj)iness  of  pL^ciiig  a  second  "book  of 
the  aSqw  Testament  in  their  hands,  with  the  prosj^ect 
of  soon  being  able  to  feed  them  still  more  bounti- 
fully on  tlie  manna  of  divdne  truth ;  and  the  good 
man  makes  a  record  of  his  joy  and  gratitude  to  God 
for  manifold  mercies.  He  then  speaks  of  the  pro- 
gress of  religious  incpiiry,  and  of  other  matters  of 
sufficient  importance  to  be  transcribed : 

"  Apkil  30. —  Lord's-day.  One  of  the  busiest  days 
I  have  ever  spent.  Not  a  multitude  of  visitants,  as 
formerly.  That  we  can  not  expect  in  present  circum- 
stances. '  But,  beside  the  usual  evening  assembly, 
there  were  eight  or  ten  present  at  worship,  some  of 
whom  were  with  me  from  nine  in  the  morning  till 
ten  at  night.  Mali  Men-la  and  her  company  were 
with  Mrs.  Judson,  who  has  had  a  serious  attack  of 
the  liver  complaint,  for  a  fortnight  past,  and  is  now 
in  a  course  of  salivation. 

"  Oo  Yan,  after  having  searched  out  all  the  dif- 
ficult points  of  religion,  came  to-day  to  the  ne  plus 
ultra  —  How  are  sin  and  eternal  misery  reconcilable 
with  the  character  of  an  infinitely  holy,  wise,  and 
powerful  God?  He  at  length  obtained  such  satis- 
faction, that  he  could  not  restrain  laughing,  from 
pure  mental  delight,  and  kept  recurring  to  the  sub- 
ject, and  repeating  my  remarks  to  those  around  him. 
He  was  accompanied,  as  usual,  by  his  two  friends, 
Moung  Thah-a  and  Moung  Myat-lah,  husband  of 
Mah  Men-la.  With  these  came  also  one  Moung  Yo, 
a  disciple  of  Moung  Shwa-Gnong,  a  poor  man,  but 


10-i  THE   MISSIONARY   LAB0E8 

a  sharp  reasoner.  He  was,  or  pretended  to  be,  on 
the  semi-atheistic  plan.  After  ascertaining  his  pre- 
cise groimd,  I  used  an  argument,  which,  in  a  late 
combat  with  Oo  Yan,  I  found  qnite  invincible.  It 
is  simply  this  :  '  N^o  mind,  no  wisdom — temporary 
mind,  temporary  wisdom  —  eternal  mind,  eternal  wis- 
dom.' Now,  as  all  the  semi-atheists  firmly  believe  in 
eternal  wisdom,  this  concise  statement  sweeps  with 
irresistible  sway,  through  the  very  joints  and  mar- 
row of  their  system.  And  though  it  may  seem 
rather  simple  and  inconclusive,  to  one  acquainted 
with  Burman  reasoning,  its  effect  is  uniformly  deci- 
sive. 'No  sooner  is  this  short  sentence  uttered,  than 
one  significantly  nods  his  head,  as  if  to  say.  There 
you  have  it.  Another  cries  out  to  the  opjDonent, 
You  are  undone,  destroyed.  Another  says,  Talk 
about  wisdom;  where  else  will  you  find  it?  The 
disputant  himself,  who  was,  perhaps,  preparing  a 
learned  speech  about  the  excellence  and  efiicacy 
and  eternity  of  wisdom,  quite  disconcerted  by  this 
unexpected  onset,  sits  looking  at  the  w^reek  of  his 
system,  and  wondering  at  the  simple  means  which 
have  spread  such  ruin  around  him ;  presently  he 
looks  up,  (for  the  Burmans  are  frequently  candid,) 
and  says,  Your  words  are  very  appropriate.  And 
jDerhaps  his  next  question  is,  How  can  I  become  a 
disciple  of  the  God  you  worship  ? 

"  All  the  visitors  to-day,  and  indeed  all  the  semi- 
atheists  are  despisei-s  of  Gaudama,  and  the  estab- 
lished religion  of  the  land.  Moung  Shwa-Gnong 
has  disseminated  this  heresy  in  Rans-oou  for  several 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  105 

years ;  but  since  he  lias  become  acquainted  with  ns, 
he  frequently  tells  his  adherents, '  I  know  nothing ; 
if  you  want  true  wisdom,  go  to  the  foreign  teacher, 
and  there  you  will  find  it.'  I  have  reason  to  believe 
that  this  heresy  is  not  confined  to  Rangoon,  but  is 
taking  root  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  pre- 
paring the  way  for  the  christian  religion.  O,  for 
toleration  —  a  little  toleration.  We  will  be  content 
to  baptize  in  the  night,  and  hold  worship  in  private ; 
but  we  do  pray  that  we  may  not  be  utterly  banished 
from  the  land ;  that  we  may  not  be  cut  up,  root  and 
branch.  O,  that  these  poor  souls  who  are  groping 
in  the  dark,  feeling  after  the  truth,  may  have  time 
and  opportunities  to  find  the  precious  treasure,  which 
will  enrich  them  forevermore.  We  are  all  looking 
with  anxiety  tow^ard  the  golden  feet.  Our  viceroy, 
Moung  Shwa-thah,  has  gone  thither  on  a  visit ;  and 
it  is  doubtful  whether  he  will  return,  or  his  rival 
Mya-day-men.  If  the  latter,  there  is  some  reason 
to  hope  that  we  shall  keep  footing  in  Rangoon,  at 
least,  during  his  administration.'* 

Among  the  visitors  at  the  zayat,  in  May  and  June, 
were  ^Momig  Myat-yah,  Moung  Thah-yah,  Moung 
Gway,  and  Moung  Nyo-dwa.  The  first  two  were 
baptized  on  the  4:th  of  the  latter  month,  and  the  last 
two  on  the  16th  of  July.  Two  days  afterward, 
Moung  Shwa-Gnong  and  Mah  Men-la  followed  in 
the  same  delis^htful  ordinance.  The  latter  was  the 
first  Burman  female  baptized,  and  the  tenth  convert. 
While  these  encom-aging  events  were  transpiring, 
6* 


106  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

the  health  of  Mrs.  Judson  was  gradually  on  the  de- 
cline ;  and  in  the  early  part  of  July  she  began  to 
make  preparations  to  sail  for  Bengal  for  relief.  Her 
extreme  weakness  rendered  it  necessary  that  Mr. 
Judson  should  accompany  her,  and,  amid  the  tears 
and  pious  benedictions  of  the  new-born  saints,  they 
embarked  on  the  19th  of  the  month.  Just  before 
going  aboard  the  ship,  Mr.  Judson  addressed  a  line 
to  Dr.  Baldwin,  in  which  he  says :  "  Never  did  I 
feel  more  unwillingness  to  leave  Rangoon,  nor  was 
the  mission  ever  in  more  interesting  circumstances 
than  at  the  present  time.  Since  our  return  from  Ava, 
I  have  not  ventured  to  make  the  least  public  move- 
ment, but  confined  myself  at  home,  holding  private 
worship,  translating  the  Scriptures,  and  conversing 
with  those  who  visited  me.  Tlie  spirit  of  God  has, 
«LOwever,  continued  operating  and  carrying  on  the 
work,  which  began  before  we  went  up  to  Ava,  at 
vvhich  time  we  had  baptized  three. 

"All  the  ten  baptized  disciples  give  satisfactory 
igvidence  of  being  true  converts.  Those  of  the  longest 
•gtanding  are  evidently  growing  christians.  Some  of 
'jhem  take  the  lead  in  prayer  meetings,  with  great 
propriety ;  and  nearly  all  of  them  have  made  some 
attempt  at  this  exercise  before  the  church.  A  good 
legree  of  christian  affection  prevails  among  them  all ; 
ihe  appearance  of  which,  Moung  Shwa-Gnong  says, 
convinced  him,  more  than  anything  else,  of  the 
divine  origin  and  efficacy  of  the  christian  religion." 

The  missionaries  arrived  at  Calcutta  on  the  8th  of 
August.    The  climate  being  more  salubrious,  and  the 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDS02T.  107 

society  more  congenial  at  Seranipore,  Mrs.  Juclson 
was  soon  removed  thither.  Though  under  the  care 
of  skillful  physicians,  she  gained  but  little  for  several 
months  ;  and  Mr.  Judson  deemed  it  so  important  for 
him  to  be  at  Rangoon,  that  he  was  about  to  leave  her 
in  the  care  of  their  English  friends,  and  return  ;  but 
about  this  time  she  rapidly  improved,  and  concluded 
to  accompany  her  husband.  They  arrived  at  their 
adopted  home  on  the  5th  of  January,  1821. 

The  divine  Shepherd  had  watched  over  the  little 
flock,  in  the  absence  of  the  missionaries.  Four  or 
^ve  met  their  under  shepherd  at  the  wharf,  and 
greeted  him  and  his  companion  with  the  warmest 
salutations ;  the  others,  in  town,  hurried  to  the  mis- 
sion-house, as  soon  as  the  good  news  of  the  teacher's 
return  reached  them  ;  and  that  night  they  there  met 
for  prayer.  It  was  a  season  of  great  rejoicing,  and 
the  prayers  then  oiFered  must  have  been  freighted 
with  the  incense  of  gratitude  and  praise. 

In  about  a  week  after  their  retm^n,  the  missionaries 
were  permitted  to  welcome  the  only  baptized  Bur- 
man  whom  they  had  not  previously  seen.  This  was 
Moung  Gway,  who  hastened  in  from  the  jungle  ah 
soon  as  he  heard  of  their  arrival. 

Although  the  lives  of  all  the  converts  had  been 
jDreserved,  one  of  them,  Moung  Shwa-Gnong,  had 
narrowly  escaped  the  cruel  rigors  of  heathen  law. 
Soon  after  Mya-day-men  became  the  iniler  of  the 
district  where  he  was  living,  the  priests  and  officers 
of  the  village  conspired  against  him,  and  seemed  to 
be  bent  on  his  destruction.     One  of  them,  who  was 


108  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

a  member  of  the  highest  court,  stated  one  day,  in 
the  presence  of  the  governor,  that  Monng  Shwa- 
Gnong  was  trying  "to  turn  the  priests'  rice  pot 
bottom  side  np."  To  this  comphxint  his  excellency 
answered,  "What  consequence?  Let  the  priest 
turn  it  back  again."  This  remark  sliowed  the  tol- 
erant disposition  of  its  author,  and  this  trait  in  his 
character  doubtless  saved  the  life  of  Moung  Shwa- 
Gnong. 

The  following  extracts  of  a  letter  from  the  pen  of 
Mr.  Judson,  at  this  period,  indicate  his  studious 
habits,  his  progress  in  translating,  and  the  prospects 
of  the  mission : 

Rangoon,  April  8,  1821. 

My  dear  Brother  Hough  :  —  I  fully  intended  to 
send  the  translation  of  Acts  by  the  Elizabeth,  which 
carries  this  letter ;  but  it  is  not  within  the  compass 
of  possibility.  I  have  sat  with  the  teacher  from 
half  past  eight  in  the  morning,  except  dinner  time, 
till  five  at  night,  for  some  time  past.  The  revision 
w^as  completed  yesterday;  but  I  cannot  possibly 
ti'anscribe  it  in  time  for  the  present  opportunity.  It 
shall  positively  be  sent  by  the  next,  and  will,  most 
probably,  be  accompanied  by  Ephesians;  upon  the 
revision  of  which,  we  shall  enter  immediately. 

•Tr  7^  -if  vr  Vi-  -;^ 

Ko  further  news  of  war;  but  nothing  to  be  ex- 
pected till  after  the  raiuR.  May-Zoo's  son  called  in 
just  now,  and  told  me  that  Moung  Shwa-thah  had 
made  a  great  effort  to  supplant  the  present  viceroy, 
and  had  been  w^holly  repulsed ;  the  emperor  saying 


OP    ADONIEAM    JUDSON.  109 

that  his  grandfather,  the  late  emperor,  had  given  the 
13lace  to  Mja-daj-men  for  life.  If  half  of  this  is 
true,  it  is  most  propitious  to  the  mission,  I  think 
we  are  in  no  fear  of  persecution  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  present  viceroy.  But  all  things  are 
fluctuating  in  this  countrv. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1S21,  Mr.  Judson  was  visited 
by  a  new  and  striking  character,  a  disciple  of  the 
great  semi-atheistic  teacher  of  the  country.  His 
name  was  Moung  Long.  Like  the  rest  of  the  sect, 
he  was,  "in  reality,  a  complete  skeptic,  scarcely  be- 
lieving his  own  existence."  His  metaphysics  were 
not  wholly  nnlike  those  of  some  living  men,  and 
professed  scholars,  even  in  christian  lands.  His 
wife  could  not  invite  him  to  j^artake  of  a  dish  of 
rice,  without  his  offering  queries  touching  its  na- 
ture—  whether  it  was  matter  or  sj^irit,  an  idea,  or 
a  nonentity.  But  he  who  could  puzzle  his  wife  with 
his  disgusting  gibberish,  could  not  confound  Mr. 
Judson. 

''When  he  first  came  in,  I  thought  him  an  ordi- 
nary man.  He  has  only  one  good  eye ;  but  I  soon 
discovered  that  that  one  eye  has  as  '  great  a  quantity 
of  being'  as  half  a  dozen  common  eyes.  ^  ^  ^ 
He  professed  to  be  an  inquirer  after  the  truth ;  and  I 
accordingly  opened  to  him  some  parts  of  the  gospel. 
He  listened  with  great  seriousness;  and,  when  I 
ceased  speaking,  remained  so  thoughtful,  and  appa- 
rently impressed  with  the  truth,  that  I  began  to  hope 


110  THE    MISSION AEY    LABOES 

he  would  come  to  some  good,  and,  therefore,  invited 
him  to  ask  some  question  relative  to  what  he  had 
heard.  'Your  servant,'  said  he,  'has  not  much 
to  inquire  of  your  lordship.  In  your  lordship's  sa- 
cred speech,  however,  there  are  one  or  two  words 
which  your  servant  does  not  understand.  Your 
lordship  says,  that  in  the  beginning,  God  created  one 
man  and  one  woman.  I  do  not  understand  (I  beg 
your  lordship's  pardon,)  what  a  man  is,  and  why  he 
is  called  a  man.'  My  eyes  were  now  oj)ened,  in  an 
instant,  to  his  real  character ;  and  I  had  the  happi- 
ness to  be  enabled,  for  about  twenty  minutes,  to  lay 
blow  after  blow  upon  his  skeptic  head,  with  such 
effect  that  he  kept  falling  and  falling ;  and,  though 
he  made  several  desperate  efforts  to  get  up,  he  found 
himself,  at  last,  prostrate  on  the  ground,  unable  to 
stir.  Moung  Shwa-Gnong,  who  had  been  an  attentive 
listener,  was  extremely  delighted  to  see  his  enemy  so 
well  punished  ;  for  this  Moung  Long  has  sorely  har- 
assed him,  in  time  past.  The  poor  fellow,  was  not, 
however,  in  the  least  angry  at  his  discomfiture  ;  but, 
in  the  true  spirit  of  his  school,  said  that,  though  he 
had  heard  much  of  me,  the  reality  far  exceeded  the 
report.  Afterward,  he  joined  us  in  worship,  and 
listened  with  great  attention,  as  did  also  his  wife." 

For  several  months  the  holy  enterprise  was  highly 
favored.  Mya-day-men  continued  tolerant,  and  in- 
quirers came  to  the  zayat  without  the  terrors  of  a 
governmental  frown  hanging  over  them.  Moung 
Ing,  the  second  convert,  who  had  been  absent  from 


OF   ADONLRAM   JTDSON.  Ill 

Rangoon,  with  one  or  two  others,  had  now  been 
added  to  the  church  ;*  and  Mr.  Judson  was  receiv- 
ing valuable  assistance  from  Moung  Shwa-Gnong 
and  Moung  Shwa-ba,  in  translating  the  Scriptures. 

Having  sent  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians  and  the 
first  part  of  Acts  to  Mr.  Hough,  Mr.  Judson  next 
translated  the  Gospel  and  Epistles  of  John,  "those 
exquisitely  sweet  and  precious  portions  of  the  "New 
Testament."  These  he  finished  in  the  summer  of 
1821;  and,  at  the  same  time,  made  considerable 
advancement  on  the  latter  part  of  Acts. 

"While  things  were  thus  prospering,  the  health  of 
Mrs.  Judson  was  again  declining ;  and  the  character 
of  her  disease  had  now  become  so  alarming,  that  it 
was  deemed  expedient  for  her  to  return  to  her  native 
land,  or  seek  some  other  salubrious  climate.  De- 
ciding to  visit  Anierica,  with  a  bleeding  heart  she 
bade  farewell  to  her  husband  and  the  little  band  of 

*  February  25. — Moung  Ing  presented  his  petition  for  baptism  and 
admission  into  the  church  ;  and  we  unhesitatingly  agreed  to  grant 
his  request,  next  Lord's  day.  *  *  *  The  manner  of  his  first 
acquaintance  with  the  truth,  is  somewhat  noticeable  ;  I  had  con- 
versed with  two  men,  who  visited  the  zayat  the  preceding  evening, 
and  given  them  a  tract.  On  their  way  home,  they  called  at  the 
house  of  the  Tsahlen  teacher,  where  Moung  Ing  resided  :  said  a  few 
things  about  the  eternal  God  and  the  new  religion,  by  way  of  disap- 
proval, and  concluded  that  the  tract  was  good  for  nothing  but  to  tear 
up  and  make  segars  of.  But  the  truth,  which  they  despised,  fell  like 
a  flash  of  lightning  on  the  benighted  soul  of  Moung  Ing.  The 
next  morning,  before  sunrise,  he  was  in  the  porch  of  the  zayat,  and, 
on  opening  the  doors,  we  found  the  poor  man  standing  without.  He 
will  not,  I  trust,  meet  with  any  such  detention  at  the  doors  of 
heaven. —  Me.  Judson's  Journal,  1821. 


112  THE   MISSIONAKY  LABORS 

endeared  disciples,  the  objects  of  lier  tenderest  care 
and  her  most  earnest  prayers,  and  sailed  for  Bengal 
on  the  21st  of  August,  1821.  There  she  was  detained 
three  or  four  months,  and  at  last  took  a  free  berth  in 
a  vessel  bound  to  England,  where  she  remained  until 
August,  1822  ;  she  then  took  passage  for  Xew  York, 
where  she  arrived  on  the  25th  of  the  following  month. 
In  visiting  her  kindred  in  her  native  state,  and  in 
traversing  the  land,  responding  to  the  calls  of  duty 
and  the  wants  of  the  cause  in  which  all  her  interests 
were  enlisted  for  life,  let  us  leave  her  for  a  season, 
and  return  to  the  sole  missionary  in  the  Burman 
empire,  the  lone  yet  cheerful,  energetic  and  intrepid 
reaper  in  a  desolate  and  ap^^arently  unpromising 
field.  We  say  unpromising^  for  such  it  had  suddenly 
become,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  tone  of  a  letter  w^hich 
Mr.  Judson  wrote  to  Dr.  Sharp,  dated  at  Rangoon, 
September  17th,  1821.     The  following  is  an  extract: 

"  If  I  had  sufficient  property,  I  should  think  of 
another  visit  to  Ava ;  but  a  thousand  rupees  of  mis- 
sion money  is  too  much  to  be  thrown  away  on  an 
improbability.  I  have  some  idea,  that  in  a  year's 
residence  at  court,  I  should  find  some  influential  per- 
son, who  would  procure  me  favorable  access  to  the 
presence  of  the  emperor.  Unless  some  word  or  look 
can  be  obtained  from  his  majesty,  it  seems  morally 
impossible  that  anything  can  be  done  in  this  country. 
It  is  true  that,  by  the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
multitudes  can  be  converted,  where  the  means  are 
used ;  but,  at  present,  no  one  dares  come  near  me ; 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  113 

and  for  me  to  go  out  into  the  streets,  and  zayats, 
and  pagodas,  and  proclaim  a  proscribed  religion, 
would   be  the  height  of  madness. 

"  I  suj)pose  I  feel  more  disheartened  just  at  pres- 
ent, in  consequence  of  being  entirely  alone,  as  I  have 
been  since  Mrs.  Judson's  dejDarture,  with  not  a  single 
person  in  the  whole  place  who  can  give  me  a  word 
of  advice  or  encouragement.  But  I  sometimes  derive 
comfort  from  a  higher  source,  and  feel  happy  in  com- 
mitting the  forlorn  hope  into  the  hands  of  the  great 
Captain  of  our  salvation,  who  is  able  to  keep  those 
who  are  persecuted  from  being  forsaken,  and  those 
who  are  cast  down  from  being  destroyed." 

During  the  month  in  which  this  letter  was  written, 
aiiother  complaint  against  Moung  Shwa-Gnong  was 
brought  before  the  \aceroy ;  and  as  proof  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  these  charges  might  be  presented,  and 
thereby  expose  his  life,  he  thought  it  prudent  for  him 
to  absent  himself  for  a  time  from  those  quarters.  He 
came  to  the  mission-house  and  told  Mr.  Judson  he 
was  about  to  take  his  family  up  the  country  among 
the  heretical  sect  who  had  been  his  former  associates, 
and  that  he  had  come  to  receive  the  parting  benedic- 
tion of  the  teacher,  and  to  obtain  some  tracts,  por- 
tions  of  Scripture,  &c.,  to  scatter  among  the  needy. 
With  these  he  was  cheerfully  furnished,  and  the 
Burman  col^^orteur  took  his  departure. 

At  the  same  time,  the  other  converts  began  to  re- 
ceive the  scrutiny  of  the  priests  and  civil  authorities ; 
and,  as  intimated  in  the  letter  to  Dr.  Sharp,  they 


114  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

avoided  the  zayat  entirely.  They  continued  to  visit 
the  mission-house,  however,  and  there  received  in- 
struction which  tended  to  their  growth  in  grace. 
This  circumstance  was  the  only  source  of  encourage- 
ment and  consolation  now  left  to  Mr.  Judson,  for  no 
inquirers,  whatever  their  anxieties  might  be,  dared 
come  near  him. 

Such  was  the  state  of  tlimgs  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1821.  It  was  an  unpromising  period  in  the 
history  of  the  mission  ;  and  to  any  other  person  than 
Mr.  Judson,  the  darkness  might  have  been  impene- 
trable.    He^ 

"  Eager  to  hope,  but  not  less  firm  to  bear. 
Acquainted  with  all  feelings  save  despair," 

struggled  on,  with  a  fixedness  of  purpose  that  no 
adverse  circumstances  could  bend ;  laying  broader 
the  foundation  for  his  usefulness,  when  the  morn, 
whose  saffron  tints  his  eye  of  faith  seemed  ever  to 
descry,  should  break  upon  his  efforts.  By  applying 
himself  almost  exclusively,  and  most  intensely,  to 
translating,  he  had,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  finished 
more  than  one-third  of  the  E"ew  Testament,  and 
nearly  completed  a  second  translation  of  Matthew : 

On  the  13th  of  December,  1821,  he  was  cheered 
by  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Jonathan  D.  Price  and  wife, 
who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Board  in  the  preced- 
ing May.  The  latter  died  at  Rangoon  the  2d  of 
May  following.  She  was  not  allowed  to  enter  fairly 
upon  the  great  work  on  which  her  heart  was  set ; 
yet  she  had  no  murmmings  to  make.     Her  illness 


OF  ADONTKAM   JUDSOX.  115 

was  exceed ii\ii'].v  painful;  but  patient,  resigned,  and 
rejoicing  in  Ci!i-'>t,  she  went  to  the  rest  reserved  for 
the  people  of  Go  A. 

Mr.  Price  had  received  a  medical,  as  well  as  the- 
ological education;  and  was  appointed  to  act  in  the 
double  capacity  of  physician  and  missionary.  Shortly 
after  his  amval,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hough  returned  with 
the  printing  press  from  Serampore. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  year  1822,  the  pros- 
pects of  the  mission  constantly  brightened.  Oppo- 
sition gradually  abated,  nntil  it  seemed  to  have 
entirely  ceased ;  the  zayat  was  again  open ;  inquirers 
were  calling  daily,  and  before  the  close  of  sum- 
mer, five  more  persons  were  baptized.  Their  names 
were  Mah  Doke,  Moung  Thah-a,  May  Mee,  May 
Zoo,  and  Mee  Men-oo.  The  last  had  been  blind,  but 
was  now  restored  through  the  skill  of  Dr.  Price. 
She  was  quite  young,  mee^  denoting  a  girl. 

Previous  to  this  addition,  the  church  lost  one  of 
its  older  members,  Moung  Thah-lah.  He  died  sud- 
denly, of  the  cholera-morbus,  in  IN'ovember,  1821. 

Part  of  the  time  during  the  spring  and  summer 
of  1822,  Mr.  Judson  was  laid  by  with  illness.  Writ- 
ing in  his  journal  on  the  last  day  of  June,  he  says : 
"  Am  just  recovering  from  severe  illness.  A  few 
weeks  ago,  was  taken  with  a  fever,  slight  at  first,  but 
daily  increasing  in  violence,  until  the  event  became 
very  dubious.  On  recovering  from  the  efiects  of  the 
fever,  and  just  resuming  the  translation,  I  was  sud- 
denly seized  with  the  cholera-morbus,  though  that 
disease  is  not  now  prevalent  in  the  place ;    and 


116  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

several  hours  of  suffering  elapsed,  before  medicine 
took  effect.  This,  with  the  quantity  of  laudanum 
administered,  deprived  me  of  the  little  remaining 
strength  which  the  fever  left  me,  and  I  am  now 
scarcely  able  to  hold  my  pen.  It  is  singular,  that 
last  rainy  season  I  was  subject  to  the  same  diseases, 
though  in  a  different  order ;  and  I  ascribe  it  to  the 
ascendency  which  the  climate  of  Eangoon  is  obtain- 
ing over  my  constitution.  If  it  be  the  will  of  God, 
I  feel  desirous  of  living  to  finish  the  I^ew  Testament 
in  Burman,  —  a  work  which  must  otherwise  be  sus- 
pended for  some  time." 


CHAPTEK    X 


Mr.  Judson  and  Dr.  Price  visit  Ava  — Favorable  Reception  of  the  Former  — Mr 
Judson's  Interviews  with  Moung  Zah,  with  the  King,  and  Prince  M. —  Mr. 
Judson's  Negotiations  for  a  Building  Lot — Sufficiently  gains  the  End  for 
which  he  had  visited  the  Capital,  and  returns  to  Rangoon  —  State  of  the 
Mission  there. 

The  king  having  heard  of  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Price, 
and  being  desirous  to  test  his  medical  skill,  sum- 
moned him  to  Ava.  As  the  doctor  was  ignorant 
of  court  customs,  and  unversed  in  the  language,  it 
seemed  necessary  that  Mr.  Judson  should  accom- 
pany him.  Having  decided  so  to  do,  a  day  or  two 
before  their  embarkation,  Mr.  Judson  addressed  a 
communication  to  Dr.  Baldwin,  in  which,  after  men- 
tioning, with  other  matters,  that  he  had  proceeded 
to  the  end  of  the  Second  of  Corinthians,  including 
Ephesians,  Hebrews,  and  the  Epistles  of  John,  in 
translating,  when  the  summons  came  for  Dr.  Price 
to  repair  to  the  capital,  he  says :  "  For  several  weeks 
past,  there  has  been  a  considerable  excitement  in  the 
minds  of  our  Burman  friends.  The  assembly  on 
Lord's  day  has  risen  to  thirty  or  forty.  Five  have 
lately  been  baptized,  and  there  remain  several  hope- 
ful inquirers.     These  cii'cumstances  make  me  very 


118  THE    MISSIONARY   LABOES 

reluctant  to  leave  Eangoon;  yet  the  path  of  duty- 
seems  to  lead  to  Ava.  May  the  Lord  dn-ect  and 
pros23er  this  our  second  attempt  to  gain  some  footing 
in  the  capital  and  the  palace." 

Leaving  the  station  at  Rangoon  in  charge  of  Mr. 
Hough,  Messrs.  Judson  and  Price  set  out  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1822,  and  arrived  at  Ava  on  the 
27th  of  September.  They  were  promptly  introduced 
to  his  golden  majest}^,  who  received  Dr.  Price  with 
much  graciousness,  and  inquired  very  particularly 
about  his  medical  acquirements,  but  took  no  notice 
of  Mr.  Judson  for  three  or  four  days,  except  as  inter- 
preter. Moung  Zah,  whose  acquaintance  Mr.  Jud- 
son had  made  at  Amarapura,  recognized  him  at  once, 
and  after  conversing  a  short  time  on  tlie  subject  of 
religion,  privately  encouraged  him  to  remain  at  the 
seat  of  government. 

Four  days  after  his  arriva,!,  Mr.  Judson  writes : 
"To-day,  the  king  noticed  me  for  the  first  time, 
though  I  have  appeared  before  him  nearly  every  day 
since  oiu*  arrival.  After  making  some  inquiries,  as 
usual,  about  brother  Price,  he  added,  '  And  you,  in 
black,  what  are  you  ?  a  medical  man,  too  ? '  '  JS'ot  a 
medical  man,  but  a  teacher  of  religion,  your  majesty.' 
He  proceeded  to  make  a  few  inquiries  about  my 
religion,  and  then  put  the  alarming  question,  whether 
any  had  embraced  it.  I  evaded,  by  saying,  '!Not 
here.'  He  persisted.  '  Are  there  any  in  Rangoon  ? ' 
'  There  are  a  few.'  '  Are  they  foreignei*s  ? '  I  trem- 
bled for  the  consequence  of  an  answer,  which  might 
involve  the  little  church  in  ruin ;  but  the  truth  must 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  119 

be  sacrificed,  or  the  consequences  hazarded ;  and  I 
therefore   replied,  'There  are  some  foreigners  and 
some  Em-mans.'     He  remained  silent  a  few  moments, 
bnt  presently  showed  that  he  was  not  displeased,  by 
asking  a  great  variety  of  questions  on  religion,  and 
geogi-aphy,    and   astronomy,   some   of    which  were 
answered  in  such  a  satisfactory  manner,  as  to  occasion 
a  general  expression  of  approbation  in  all  the  court 
present.     After  his  majesty  retired,  a  Than-dau-tsen 
(a  royal   secretary)   entered   into  conversation,  and 
allowed  me  to  expatiate  on  several  topics  of  the  chris- 
tian religion,  in  my  usual  way.     And  all  this  took 
place  in  the  hearing  of  the  very  man,  now  an  atwen- 
woon,  who,  many  years  ago,  caused  his  uncle  to  be 
tortured  almost  to  death,  under  the   iron  mall,  for 
renouncing   Buddhism  and  embracing   the  Roman 
Catholic  religion !     But  I  knew  it  not  at  the  time, 
though,  from  his  age,  a  slight  suspicion  of  the  truth 
passed   across   my  mind.     Thanks  to  God,  for  the 
encouragement  of  this   day!     The  monarch  of  the 
empire  has  distinctly  understood,  tliat  some  of  his 
subjects  have  embraced  the  christian  religion,  and 
his  wrath  has  been  restrained.     Let  us  then  hope, 
that,  as  he  becomes  more  acquainted  with  the  excel- 
lence of  the  religion,  he  will  be  more  and  more  wil- 
ling that  his  subjects  should  embrace  it." 

On  the  3d  of  October,  the  missionaries  moved  into 
the  house — or,  more  properly,  shed — which  had  been 
erected  for  them  by  the  emperor's  orders.  It  was  a 
temporary  structm-e,  and  a  poor  defense  against  rain 
and  the  rapacious  curiosity  of  idle  idolaters. 


120  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

The  day  following,  on  the  return  of  the  mission- 
aries from  the  palace,  whither  they  were  accustomed 
to  repair  immediately  after  breakfast,  Mr.  Judson 
was  sent  for  by  Prince  M.,  the  emperor's  half-brother, 
who  wished  to  convei^e  with  him  on  science  and 
religion.  He  had  previously  called  on  Dr.  Price  for 
medical  advice.  Being  paralytically  affected  in  all 
his  limbs,  and  thus  "  cut  off  from  the  usual  sources 
of  amusement,  and  having  associated  a  little  w^ith  the 
Portuguese  padres  who  have  lived  at  Ava,  he  has 
acquired  a  strong  taste  for  foreign  science.  My  com- 
munications," continues  Mr.  Judson, ''  interested  him 
very  much,  and  I  found  it  difficult  to  get  away,  until 
brother  Price  sent  expressly  for  me  to  go  again  to 
the  palace." 

Soon  after  this  interview,  Mr.  Judson  was  taken 
sick  with  the  fever  and  ague,  with  w^hich  he  was 
afflicted  about  ten  days.  He  had  a  similar  attack 
the  early  part  of  the  next  month.  We  subjoin 
portions  of  his  journal  written  l)etween  the  two 
seasons  of  illness,  which  will  be  found  particularly 
interesting : 

"  October  22. — Brother  Price  went  to  Amara- 
pura,  to  meet  a  gentleman  just  arrived  fix)m  Ran- 
goon, who,  we  hope,  may  have  letters  for  us.  At 
night,  brother  Price  returned,  w^ith  a  large  parcel 
of  letters,  and  magazines,  and  newspapers,  from  our 
beloved,  far-distant,  native  land — and  what  was  still 
more  interesting  to  me,  eight  sheets  from  Mrs.  Jud- 
son on  her  passage  toward  England,  the  first  direct 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  121 

intellio;ence  I  have  received  from  her  since  she  left 
Madras  roads. 

"October  23. —  Had  some  pleasant  conversation 
with  Moung  Z.,  in  the  j^^^ace,  partly  in  the  hearing 
of  the  king.  At  length  his  majesty  came  forward, 
and  honored  me  with  some  personal  notice  for  the 
second  time,  inquired  much  about  my  country,  and 
authorized  me  to  invite  American  ships  to  his  do- 
minions, assuring  them  of  protection,  and  offering 
every  facility  for  the  pm-poses  of  trade. 

"October  28. —  Spent  the  forenoon  with  Prince  M 
He  obtained  for  the  first  time,  (though  I  have  ex- 
plained it  to  him  many  times,)  some  view  of  the 
nature  of  the  atonement,  and  cried  out, '  Good,  good.' 
He  then  proposed  a  number  of  objections,  which  I 
removed  to  his  apparent  satisfaction.  Our  subse- 
quent conversation  turned,  as  usual,  on  points  of 
geography  and  astronomy.  He  candidly  acknowl- 
edged, that  he  could  not  resist  my  arguments  in 
favor  of  the  Copernican  system ;  and  that,  if  he  ad- 
mitted them,  he  must  also  admit  that  the  Buddhist 
system  was  overthrown. 

"  October  30. —  Spent  part  of  the  forenoon  with 
Prince  M.  and  his  wife,  the  Princess  of  S.,  own  sister 
of  the  king.  Gave  her  a  copy  of  Mrs.  Judson's 
Burman  Catechism,  with  which  she  was  much 
pleased.  They  both  appear  to  be  somewhat  attached 
to  me,  and  say,  do  not  return  to  Rangoon ;  but,  when 
your  wife  arrives,  call  her  to  Ava. 

"N'ovember  12. — -Spent  the  whole  forenoon  with 
Prince  M.  and  his  wife.     Made  a  fuller  disclosure 
6 


122  THE  MISSION AKT  LABOKS 

than  ever  before  of  the  nature  of  the  christian 
religion,  the  object  of  christians  in  sending  me  to 
this  country,  my  former  repulse  at  court,  and  the 
reason  of  it,  our  exposure  to  persecution  in  Eangoon, 
the  affair  of  Moung  Shwa-Gnong,  &c.  &c.  They 
entered  into  my  views  and  feelings  with  considerable 
interest;  but  both  said  decidedly,  that,  though  the 
king  would  not  himself  persecute  any  one  on  ac- 
count of  religion,  he  would  not  give  any  order 
exempting  from  persecution ;  but  would  leave  his 
subjects,  throughout  the  empire,  to  the  regular 
administration  of  the  local  authorities. 

"  After  giving  the  prince  a  succinct  account  of  my 
religious  experience,  I  ventured  to  warn  him  of  his 
danger,  and  urged  him  to  make  the  christian  religion 
his  immediate  personal  concern.  He  appeared,  for 
a  moment,  to  feel  the  force  of  what  I  said :  but  soon 
replied,  '  I  am  yet  young,  only  twenty-eight,  I  am 
desirous  of  studying  all  the  foreign  arts  and  sciences. 
My  mind  will  then  be  enlarged,  and  I  shall  be  capa- 
ble of  judging  whether  the  christian  religion  be  true 
or  not.'  '  But  suppose  your  highness  changes  worlds 
in  the  meantime  V  His  countenance  again  fell.  '  It 
is  true,'  said  he,  'I  know  not  when  I  shall  die.'  I 
suggested  that  it  would  be  well  to  pray  to  God  for 
light,  which,  if  obtained,  would  enable  him  at  once 
to  distinguish  between  truth  and  falsehood ;  and  so 
we  parted.  O,  Fomitain  of  liglit ;  shed  down  one 
ray  into  the  mind  of  this  amiable  prince,  that  he 
may  become  a  patron  of  thine  infant  cause,  and 
inherit  an  eternal  crown." 


OF   ADOXIEAM   JIJD30N.  123 

In  accompanying  Dr.  Price  to  Ava,  Mr.  Judson 
hoped  to  be  able  to  introduce  the  christian  religion 
to  the  consideration  of  the  kino;  and  his  surronndiii2: 
magnates ;  and  things  now  looked  favorable  for  ac- 
complishing this  desirable  object.  Hoping  to  locate 
himself  there  permanently,  he  was  anxious  to  build 
a  house  suitable  alike  for  j)resent  and  future  accom- 
modations ;  and  signifying  as  niucli  to  the  king,  his 
golden  majesty  gave  him  a  lot,  but  afterward  re- 
voked the  m-ant.  AYhile  neo-otiatino:  on  this  matter, 
Mr.  Judson  had  an  interview  with  him,  on  the  25th 
of  December,  of  which  we  have  the  following 
account : 

"  The  king  appeared  to  be  attracted  by  our  num- 
ber, and  came  toward  ns ;  but  his  conversation  was 
directed  chiefly  to  me.  He  again  inquired  about 
the  Burmans  who  had  embraced  my  religion.  'Are 
they  real  Bm-mans?  Do  they  dress  like  other  Bur- 
mans?'  &c.  I  had  occasion  to  remark,  that  I 
preached  every  Sunday.  'What,  in  Burman?' 
Yes.  '  Let  us  hear  how  you  preach.'  I  hesitated. 
An  atwenwoon  repeated  the  order.  I  began  with  a 
form  of  worship,  which  first  ascribes  glory  to  God, 
and  then  declares  the  commands  of  the  law  and  the 
Gospel;  after  which,  I  stopped.  'Go  on,'  said 
another  atwenwoon.  The  whole  court  w^as  pro- 
foundly silent.  I  proceeded  with  a  few  sentences 
declarative  of  the  perfections  of  God,  when  his 
majesty's  curiosity  was  satisfied,  and  he  inteiTupted 
me.     In  the  course  of  subsequent  conversation,  he 


124  THE   MISSION AET  LABOES 

asked  v/liat  I  liad  to  say  of  Gaudama.  I  replied, 
that  we  all  knew  he  was  son  of  king  Thog-dau-dah- 
nah;  that  we  regarded  him  as  a  wise  man  and  a 
great  teacher,  but  did  not  call  him  God.  '  That  is 
right,'  said  Moung  K.  N.,  an  atwenwoon  who  had 
not  hitherto  aj)peared  very  friendly  to  me.  And  he 
proceeded  to  relate  the  substance  of  a  long  com- 
munication, which  I  had  lately  made  to  him  in  the 
])rivy  council  room,  about  God,  and  Christ,  &c. 
And  this  he  did,  in  a  very  clear  and  satisfactory 
manner,  so  that  I  had  scarcely  a  single  correction  to 
make  in  his  statement-  Moung  Z.,  encouraged  by 
all  this,  really  began  to  take  the  side  of  God,  before 
his  majesty,  and  said,  'Nearly  all  the  world,  your 
majesty,  believe  in  an  eternal  God ;  except  Burmah 
and  Siam,  these  little  spots ! '  His  majesty  remained 
silent;  and  after  some  other  desultory  inquiries,  he 
abruptly  rose  and  retired." 

Having,  at  length,  secured  a  lot,  which  was  about 
a  mile  from  the  palace,  Mr.  Judson  went  to  a  woon- 
gyee  to  pay  for  it,  and  making  knowm  his  errand, 
was  thus  addressed :  "  Understand,  teacher,  that  we 
do  not  give  you  the  entire  owning  of  this  ground. 
We  take  no  recomj)ense,  lest  it  become  American 
territory !  We  give  it  to  you  for  your  present  resi- 
dence only ;  and  when  you  go  away,  shall  take  it 
again."  Mr.  Judson  gave  him  to  understand  that, 
when  he  himself  went  away,  the  persons  who  fur- 
nished funds  for  building  the  house,  would  wish  to 
place  another  teacher  in  it ;  to  which  intimation,  the 


OF   ADONIRAM   JtJDSON.  125 

woongyee  replied :  "  Yeiy  well ;  let  him  also  oc- 
cupy the  place ;  but  when  he  dies,  or  when  there  is 
no  teacher,  we  will  take  it."  To  these  terms  assent 
was  given,  and  the  bargain  closed.  Mr.  Judson 
thinks  the  precaution  of  the  woongyee,  was  owing 
to  the  recollection  of  some  manoeuvres  of  the  early 
English  settlers  in  Bengal. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  1823,  Mr.  Judson  re- 
moved to  Sagaing,  opposite  Ava,  into  a  house  built 
by  Dr.  Price,  on  the  precincts  of  Prince  M.  He 
was,  at  this  date,  again  suffering  with  the  fever  and 
ague,  and  had  hoped  that  a  change  of  air  attend- 
ing the  change  of  location,  would  benefit  his  health, 
which  proved  to  be  the  case. 

Four  days  later,  having  sufficiently  gained  the  end 
for  which  he  had  visited  Ava,  and  being  about  to 
return  to  Rangoon,  he  called  on  Prince  M.  to  take 
leave  of  him ;  and  was  urged  to  make  his  absence 
from  Ava  as  short  as  possible,  and  to  bring  back  the 
whole  scriptures,  and  translate  them,  adding  that  he 
wished  to  read  all  of  them. 

Two  or  three  days  afterward,  Mr.  Judson  went  to 
take  leave  of  the  king.  He  was  accompanied  by 
the  collector  at  Rangoon,  who  had  arrived  in  town 
the  previous  evening.  "  We  sat,"  writes  Mr.  Judson, 
a  few  moments  conversing  together.  '  What  are  you 
talking  about?'  said  his  majesty.  'He  is  speaking 
of  his  return  to  Rangoon,  replied  Mr.  L.  '  What 
does  he  return  for  ?  Let  them  not  return.  Let  them 
both,  (that  is  brother  Price  and  myself,)  stay  to- 
gether.   If  one  goes  away,  the  other  must  remain 


126  THE   MISSIONARY   LAB0K3 

alone,  and  will  be  nnliappy.'  '  He  wishes  to  go  for 
a  short  time  only,'  replied  Mr.  L.  '  to  bring  bis  wife, 
the  female  teacher,  and  his  goods,  not  having  brought 
any  thing  with  him  this  time ;  and  he  w^ill  retm*n 
soon.'  His  majesty  looked  at  me,  '  Will  you  then 
come  again  ? '  I  replied  in  the  affirmative.  '  When 
you  come  again,  is  it  your  intention  to  remain 
permanently,  or  will  you  go  back  and  forth,  as 
foreigners  commonly  do?'  'When  I  come  again, 
it  is  my  intention  to  remain  permanently.'  '  Yery 
well,'  said  his  majesty,  and  withdrew  into  his  inner 
apartment." 

Leaving  Dr.  Price  in  high  favor  at  the  Burman 
court,  Mr.  Judson  embarked  for  Eangoon  on  the 
25th  of  January,  and  amved  there  on  the  2d  of 
February.  On  the  11th  of  the  latter  month,  he 
wrote  to  Dr.  Baldwin,  stating  that  his  reception  at 
Ava,  as  a  teacher  of  Christianity,  had  been  very 
different  from  the  previous  one,  and  that  he  was 
greatly  encouraged  by  the  liberal  spirit  that  seemed 
to  prevail  in  the  royal  family.  "It  is  distinctly 
understood,"  he  says,  "  by  the  king  and  by  all  who 
have  any  knowledge  of  me  at  all,  that  I  am  a  thah- 
thah-nah-pyos-tsayah,  that  is,  a  religion-propagating 
teacher ;  and  yet  I  have  been  smiled  upon  and  lis- 
tened to,  and,  by  order  of  the  king  himself,  have 
received  from  the  chief  public  minister  of  state,  the 
grant  of  a  small  j^iece  of  ground  for  the  exj)res3 
purpose  of  building  a  kyoung  —  a  house  appropri- 
ated to  sacred  characters.  It  is  my  intention,  there- 
fore, to  return  thither  as  soon  as  Mrs.  J.  arrives,  who, 


OF  ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  127 

I  hear,  has  gone  on  to  America.  And,  in  the  mean 
time,  I  shall  occupy  myself  in  finishing  the  transla- 
tion of  the  Kew  Testament,  a  work  which  I  left  un- 
finished with  great  reluctance,  and  which  I  rejoice  to 
have  leisure  to  reasume." 

While  the  state  of  things  was  so  promising  under 
the  shadow  of  the  throne,  clouds  were  gathering  over 
the  station  at  Kangoon.  During  Mr.  Judson's  ab- 
sence, an  mtolerant  viceroy  had  succeeded  My  a- day- 
men, and  harassing  extortions  and  cruel  persecutions 
had  scattered  the  precious  flock  of  disciples.  A  por- 
tion of  them,  however,  soon  collected  at  the  mission- 
house,  and  Mr.  Judson  resumed  his  labors.  Yet 
these  were  necessarily  very  private  ;  and  being  thus 
restricted  in  his  public  efforts,  he  devoted  much  of 
his  time  to  translating  the  New  Testament.  This  im- 
portant work  he  completed  the  following  June.  As 
an  introduction,  he  j)i'epared  an  epitome  of  the  Old 
Testament  in  twelve  sections ;  containing  a  compend 
of  Scripture  history  from  the  creation  of  man  to  the 
advent  of  the  Saviour,  and  an  abstract  of  ]3rophecies 
relating  to  the  latter  and  his  kingdom.  The  disci- 
ples received  this  work  with  the  eagerness  of  hungry 
souls ;  while  to  its  author  it  served  as  a  text-book  by 
which  he  could  communicate  systematically  "  much 
valuable  information  on  the  history,  types,  and  proj^h- 
ecies  of  the  Old  Testament." 

Touching  other  topics  of  interest  connected  with 
the  mission,  Mr.  Judson  wrote  as  follows  to  Dr. 
Sharp,  under  date  of  August  5th,  1823  : 


128  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

"  I  have  lieard  but  little  from  Ava  since  I  left. 
Prince  M.  sometimes  inquires  for  me,  and  wishes 
to  hear  more  about  the  christian  religion.  Brother 
Price  is  building  a  small  brick  house  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  the  king  having  given  him  bricks. 
I  expect  to  remove  as  soon  as  Mrs.  Judson  returns, 
from  whom  I  have  not,  however,  received  a  word  of 
intelligence  for  nearly  ten  months.  Brother  Hough 
has  not  yet  been  able  to  get  types  from  Bengal ;  no 
printing,  therefore,  has  been  done  since  his  return. 

"  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  Gospel  and 
Epistles  of  John  are  printed.  They  have  been  ready 
for  the  press  above  a  year,  and  have  been  so  thor- 
oughly and  repeatedly  revised,  that  I  flatter  myself 
that  subsequent  translators  will  not  find  it  necessary 
to  make  many  alterations.  Indeed,  all  the  Gospels 
and  the  Acts  are  in  a  tolerable  state ;  the  Epistles 
are  still  deficient.  But  I  never  read  a  chapter  with- 
out a  pencil  in  hand,  and  Griesbach  and  Parkhurst 
at  my  elbow ;  and  it  will  be  an  object  with  me 
through  life,  to  bring  the  translation  into  such  a 
state,  that  it  may  be  a  standard  work." 


CHAPTEK   XI. 


Mrs.  Judson  returns  to  Burmah  — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  accompany  Ker  —  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Judson  go  to  Ava  —  Coldness  of  their  Reception  —  Formal  Removal 
of  the  Seat  of  Government  from  Amarapura  —  War  with  the  Bengal  Govern- 
ment —  Bombardment  of  Rangoon,  and  Persecution  of  the  Missionaries  there- 
Messrs.  Hough  and  Wade  go  to  Calcutta. 

On  the  5tli  of  December,  1823,  Mr.  Judson  greeted 
his  heroic  companion  once  more  on  the  shores  of  their 
adopted  land.  She  had  been  absent  more  than  two 
years  and  a  quarter;  but  she  had  not  been  idle. 
Although  her  visit  to  the  land  of  her  birth  was  made 
in  a  feeble  state,  and  her  health  was  not  fully  re- 
stored till  just  before  her  reembarkation  for  the  east, 
yet  during  the  nine  months  passed  in  America,  she 
performed  a  vast  amount  of  labor,  and  exerted  an 
incalculable  degree  of  influence  for  the  cause  so  near 
her  heart.  She  prepared  a  hist-^ry  of  the  Burman 
mission,  which  was  widely  read,  and  highly  com- 
mended by  journalists  of  the  most  critical  acumen, 
in  England  as  well  as  in  this  country ;  attended  the 
fourth  meeting  of  the  Triennial  Convention,  held  at 


130  THE   MISSION  ART   LABORS 

Washington  in  May,  1823 ;  visited  many  of  the 
large  cities,  north  and  south ;  and  wherever  she  went, 
in  whatever  circle  mingled,  she  told  the  sad  story 
of  Burman  idolatry  and  degradation,  and  excited 
fresh  interest  among  christians  of  almost  every 
denomination,  in  behalf  of  the  perishing  millions 
of  India. 

Returning  to  Rangoon  with  spirits  thoroughly  re- 
invigorated,  she  reentered  the  field  with  a  hopeful 
heart  and  inspiring  enthusiasm,  and  seemed  like  an 
angel  of  light  amid  the  cimmerian  darkness  of  pagan- 
ism. Anxious  to  do  good  and  fearless  of  danger,  she 
pressed  forward  in  her  high  vocation,  happily  uncon- 
scious of  the  hardships  before  her,  and  of  the  wine- 
press of  sorrow  she  was  soon  to  tread. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  convention  held  at  Wash- 
ington, and  before  referred  to,  Messrs.  Jonathan 
Wade  and  George  D.  Boardman  presented  them- 
selves as  candidates  for  missionary  appointment, 
and  the  former  was  soon  designated  by  the  Board. 
He  and  his  wife  sailed  with  Mrs.  Judson  on  the 
22d  of  June,  1823,  and  the  three  arrived  at  Rangoon 
together. 

With  the  mission  thus  reinforced,  it  was  decided 
that  there  should  be  a  division  of  labor ;  that  Messrs. 
Hough  and  Wade  should  remain  at  Rangoon,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  would  go  to  Ava,  and  attempt 
to  establish  a  mission  beneath  the  golden  eye.  The 
latter  were  encouraged  to  make  this  movement, 
from  the  favor  with  which  Mr.  Judson  had  been  re- 
ceived by  the  king  and  his  courtiers,  on  his  previous 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  131 

visit,   and   from   the   promising  auspices   attendant 
on  the  professional  success  of  Dr.  Price. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  were  six  weeks  in  passing  up 
the  river.  They  frequently  left  the  boat,  on  arriving 
at  a  village,  and  walked  through  the  streets,  on  which 
occasions  hundreds  flocked  aroimd  them,  to  behold 
the  first  foreign  female  that  ever  ascended  the  Irra- 
waddy.  Some  of  the  least  civil  and  most  inquisitive 
would  nm  some  distance  ahead,  then  halt  and  wheel 
round,  in  order  to  have  a  "  long  look  "  at  the  strange 
woman  in  her  novel  dress. 

Arriving  at  Ava,  the  missionaries  found  themselves 
without  a  home  or  comfortable  shelter.  Dr.  Price, 
who  met  them  on  the  way,  proffered  them  a  home,^ 
but  his  house  was  in  an  unfinished  state,  and  th(j 
newly-built  brick  walls  were  so  damp  that  Mrs.  Jud- 
son was  thrown  into  a  fever  in  three  hours  after 
entering  it.  This  circumstance  forced  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson  to  betake  themselves  to  the  boat,  where  they 
concluded  to  remain  until  a  building  could  be  erected 
on  the  lot  procured  by  Mr.  Judson  the  preceding  year. 
In  two  weeks,  the  contemplated  house  was  finished, 
and  ready  for  use.  It  contained  three  small  rooms 
and  a  veranda,  and  was  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
margin  of  the  river.  There  Mr.  Judson  immediately 
began  to  talk  of  the  great  and  only  true  God,  holding 
meetings  every  evening,  and  preaching  regularly  on 
the  Sabbath.  At  the  same  time,  his  wife,  in  order  to 
make  herself  useful,  opened  a  school  for  such  Bur- 
man  girls  as  could  be  persuaded  to  receive  instruc- 
tion.    It  was  commenced  with  only  three  pupils; 


132  THE   MISSIONARY    LABORS 

these  she  tanglit  not  only  to  read,  but  to  sew,  and  to 
do  other  kinds  of  domestic  labor.  Two  of  them  were 
sisters,  and  she  named  them  Mary  and  Abby  Hassel- 
tine.  They  were  given  to  her  by  their  father,  the 
mother  being  deranged,  and  consequently  imable  to 
take  care  of  them. 

This  plan  of  establishing  schools  for  the  discipline 
of  heathen  children,  has  been  almost  universally 
adopted  by  Mrs.  Judson's  successors  in  the  field  of 
missions,  and  "the  little  one  "  which  she  originated, 
has  "  become  a  thousand."  "We  shall  have  occasion 
to  show  that  these  schools  are  potent  agencies  for 
enlarging  and  strengthening  native  churches. 

The  reception  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  at  Ava  was 
not  so  promising  as  they  had  had  reason  to  anticipate. 
True,  an  old  friend,  the  widowed  wife  of  a  former 
viceroy  of  Rangoon,  met  Mrs.  Judson  at  the  boat, 
on  her  arrival,  and  seemed  much  pleased  to  see  her ; 
and  two  or  three  other  persons  exhibited  toward  both 
herself  and  husband,  decided  expressions  of  friend- 
ship ;  but,  as  a  whole,  the  appearance  of  things  at 
the  very  beginning  wore  an  unfavorable  aspect.  All 
the  atwenwoons  with  whom  Mr.  Judson  had  been 
formerly  acquainted,  were  now  turned  out  of  office, 
and  with  the  newly  appointed  ones  he  had  neither 
acquaintance  nor  interest.  Yarious  causes,  he  says, 
in  a  letter  addressed  to  Dr.  Baldwin,  and  dated  at 
Ava,  February  19th,  1824,  "have  conspired  to  ren- 
der the  king  somewhat  disaffected  toward  foreigners. 
Brother  Price  has  made  but  little  advance  in  royal 
favor.     On  my  appearing  at  the  palace,  I  found  that 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  133 

a  year  had  made  great  changes.  My  old  friends 
and  advocates  before  the  king,  were  missing ;  very 
few  recognized  me.  At  length  his  majesty  came 
forward,  just  spoke  to  me,  and  accepted  a  small 
present.  But  I  have  seen  him  twice  since,  without 
obtaining  a  word  or  look.  The  only  persons  who 
have  received  me  with  real  cordiality  are  Prince 
M.  and  his  wife  ;  but  even  they  are  not  much  dis- 
posed to  converse  on  religion.'^ 

In  the  same  communication,  Mr.  Judson  refers  to 
the  fact,  that  rumors  of  war  with  the  English  govern- 
ment were  in  circulation ;  and  to  this  circumstance, 
it  is  most  likely,  was  owing  the  wonderful  frigidity 
of  the  monarch.  After  speaking  of  the  dangers  and 
vicissitudes  to  which  the  missionaries  would  be  ex- 
posed, should  the  rumors  have  a  good  foundation, 
and  the  English  extend  their  invasion  to  the  capital, 
he  adds  :  "  But,  in  all  cases,  we  trust  we  have  a  few 
friends  at  home,  who  bear  us  in  their  hearts  at  a 
throne  of  grace ;  and  a  still  dearer  and  greater  Friend 
at  the  right  hand  of  the  divine  Presence,  in  heaven, 
who  is  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities, 
and  will  graciously  succor  us  in  the  time  of  trial,  and 
make  us  come  off  conquerors  at  last.  But,  my  dear 
and  venerable  friend  and  brother,  you  are,  from 
long  exj)erience,  more  able  than  I  am,  to  taste  the 
sweetness  of  this  precious  truth ;  and  your  advanced 
age,  and  the  grace  of  Christ  enable  you  to  hope  that 
you  will  ere  long  be  able  to  adopt  the  triumphant 
language  of  the  apostle  Paul.  Pray  for  me,  that  I 
may  be  counted  worthy  to  hold  out  to  the  end,  and 


134  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

finally  meet  with  yon  before  the  throne,  and  handle 
a  harj^  of  gold  in  the  dear  Redeemer's  praise." 

How  humble  the  spirit  that  here  finds  utterance; 
and  how  appropriate  the  request,  just  at  this  period, 
for  remembrance  in  the  closet!  The  devoted  mis- 
sionary seems  to  have  a  premonition  of  the  sufferings 
that  await  him,  and,  like  the  Saviour  in  the  garden 
of  Gethsemane,  is,  on  that  account,  exceedingly 
sorrowful. 

But  press  on,  O  man  of  God!  Let  thy  gar- 
ments be  dyed  at  Ava,  and  dye  thou  the  sand-path 
to  Amarapura,  and  the  prison  doors  that  yawn 
beyond !  Thou  shalt  live  through  all,  and  God,  by 
his  superabounding  grace,  shall  establish  for  thee  a 
name  above  every  contemporary's  in  the  catalogue 
of  christian  heroes. 

A  short  time  after  the  missionaries  had  established 
themselves  at  Ava,  the  government  was  formally  re- 
moved thitlier  from  Amarapura.  "  In  order  to  make 
the  transfer  of  the  golden  presence  from  one  city  to 
the  other  as  striking  and  impressive  as  possible,"  the 
king,  who  had  been  at  Ava  for  two  years,  super- 
intending the  new  palace,  went  up  to  Amarapura, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  and  all  else  at  his  com- 
mand that  contributed  to  the  exhibition  of  royal 
opulence,  majesty,  and  hauteur.  "  The  ceremony 
was  one  of  unusual  splendor  and  magnificence,  and 
presented  a  scene  well  calculated  to  fill  the  imagina- 
tion wdth  the  sublimest  conceptions  of  oriental  gran- 
deur and  wealth.  There  were  the  great  ofiicers  of 
state,  the  woongyees  and  atwenwoons,  in  their  robes 


OF  ADONIRAM  JTJDSON.  135 

of  office,  the  saupwars  of  conquered  provinces,  witli 
tlieir  troops  of  attendants,  lieroes  who  had  been  dis- 
tinguished in  the  wars  of  the  empire,  and  people  of 
every  degree,  to  the  number  of  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands, who  had  assembled  to  do  homage  to  the  stern 
monarch  of  the  land  and  sea,  the  master  of  life  and 
death,  and  lord  of  the  celestial  elephant.  Shouts 
and  acclamations  rent  the  air,  as  the  imperial  retinue 
approached  the  gates  of  the  golden  citj.  At  the 
head  of  the  procession,  and  the  most  conspicuous 
and  beautiful  object  which  it  presented,  came  the 
white  elephant,  with  his  numerous  suite,  an  object  ot 
Burman  adoration,  covered  with  jewels  and  orna- 
ments of  gold ;  next  were  seen  the  king  and  queen 
in  plain  attire,  the  only  persons  in  all  the  throng  who 
appeared  unadorned ;  following  these  were  the  great 
counselors,  both  public  and  ^^rivate,  and  the  viceroys 
of  provinces  and  cities,  who  had  come  with  their 
retinues  from  the  remotest  confines  of  the  empire,  to 
offer  fealty  to  the  monarch,  and  to  swell  the  grandeur 
of  the  festival. 

"  Amidst  this  splendid  array  of  all  the  insignia  of 
power  and  majesty,  the  king  took  ]DOssession  of  the 
new  palace,  and  reestablished  the  imperial  govern- 
ment in  its  ancient  seat  at  Ava.  The  missionaries, 
with  a  few  Em-opean  residents  at  the  capital,  gazed 
with  wonder  upon  this  unwonted  display  of  grotesque 
magnificence,  made  to  gratify  the  pride  of  the  Bur- 
man  monarch.  They  were  not  noticed  by  the  royal 
pair,  and,  although  Mr.  Judson  occasionally  visited 
the  palace,  yet  no  inquiry  was  ever  made  for  the 


136  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

female  teacher  whom  the  queen  had  formerly  ex- 
pressed her  desh'e  to  see  in  her  foreign  dress.  It 
was  not  long  before  an  order  was  issued  that  no 
European  should  enter  the  palace,  and  in  a  few  days 
afterward,  the  tidings  of  the  approaching  war,  which 
had  hitherto  been  brought  only  in  uncertain  rumors, 
were  fully  confirmed  by  intelligence  that  an  English 
fleet  had  arrived  in  the  river,  and  that  Rangoon  had 
already  fallen  into  their  hands." — Gammell's  His- 
tory OF   American  Baptist  Missions. 

This  war  originated  in  old  and  festering  feuds  on 
the  frontier  of  Chittagong.  The  Burman  govern- 
ment was  jealous  of  the  expansion  of  English  do- 
minion, and  ambitious  to  extend  its  own  into  Bengal. 
Such  was  the  condition  of  things  between  the  two 
powers,  when  the  king  heard  it  alleged  that  some  of 
his  obnoxious  subjects,  who  had  escaped  to  Chitta- 
gong, had  been  protected  by  the  English  crown; 
and  he  was  so  enraged  that  he  forthwith  raised 
thirty  thousand  men,  and  put  them  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  famous  warrior  named  Bandula.  With 
this  army,  it  was  confidently,  though  foolishlj^,  ex- 
pected the  English  could  be  brought  to  terms. 

Learning  the  intentions  of  the  Burman  monarch, 
and  anticipating  the  invasion  by  his  great  general, 
the  British  authorities  commenced  hostilities  by  the 
bombardment  of  Rangoon.  The  irruption  was  made 
by  Sir  Archibald  Campbell,  whose  forces  numbered 
about  six  thousand,  and  were  composed  of  European 
troops  and  sepoys. 


OF  ADONIEAM  JUDSON.  137 

As  might  be  expected,  these  movements  suspended 
the  operations  of  the  missionaries  at  Rangoon ;  and 
not  only  so,  but  their  lives  were  jeoparded.  As 
soon  as  the  English  transj^orts  appeared  in  the  river, 
(May  10th,)  Messrs.  Hough  and  Wade,  and  every 
other  person  "  who  wore  a  hat,"  were  hurried  to 
prison;  and  the  two  missionaries  were  bound  to- 
gether by  the  legs  with  ropes,  and  strongly  guarded. 
"An  hour  or  two  afterward,"  ^Tites  Mr.  Wade,  "  the 
blacksmith  came,  bringing  a  rough,  heavy  chain.  It 
consisted  of  three  links,  each  about  four  inches  in 
length,  and  pounded  together  so  close  as  to  com- 
pletely prevent  it  from  bending  any  more  than  a 
straight  bar  of  iron.  This  was  designed  for  Mr.  H. 
and  myself.  He  was  first  seated,  his  leg  laid  upon 
a  block,  the  ring  placed  upon  the  ankle,  and  then 
pounded  down  close  with  heavy  blows.  The  other 
ring  was  put  upon  my  ankle  in  the  same  manner. 
Our  situation  afforded  no  convenience  for  lying  down, 
and,  of  course,  allowed  us  no  sleep,  or  even  rest. 

"  The  next  day  the  guard  of  the  prison  was  con- 
siderably strengthened,  and  enjoined  strictly  to  keep 
us  close ;  all  communication  with  our  servants,  and 
things  without,  was  cut  off.  Shortly  after,  orders 
from  the  ray-woon  were  communicated  to  our 
guard  through  the  grates  of  the  prison,  viz.  that  the 
instant  the  shipping  should  open  a  fire  upon  the 
town,  they  were  to  massacre  all  the  prisoners  with- 
out hesitation.  This  blasted  all  om-  hopes.  The 
guards  immediately  began  sharj)ening  their  instru- 
ments of  death  with  bricks,  and  brandishing  them 


138  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

about  oni'  heads,  to  show  with  how  much  dexterity 
and  pleasure  they  would  execute  their  fatal  orders. 
Upon  the  place  which  they  intended  for  the  scene 
of  butchery,  a  large  quantity  of  sand  was  spread  to 
receive  the  blood.  Among  the  prisoners  reigned 
the  gloom  and  silence  of  death — the  vast  ocean  of 
eternity  seemed  but  a  step  before  us.  Mr.  H.  and 
myself  threw  ourselves  down  upon  a  matrass,  ex- 
pecting never  to  rise  again,  and  calmly  waited  to 
hear  the  first  gun  that  should  be  fired  upon  the 
town,  as  the  signal  for  our  certain  death. 


ii 


In  the  meantime,  an  account  of  our  real  situa- 
tion, which  we  had  used  various  means  to  conceal, 
reached  the  ears  of  our  afflicted  wives.  Their  feel- 
ings can  be  better  conceived  than  expressed.  "Who 
can  tell  with  what  agony  of  soul  they  listened  to 
hear  the  first  gun,  the  messenger  which  would  relate 
a  tale,  more  sad  and  awful  than  death  itself  could 
relate. 

"  At  length  the  fleet  arrived,  and  the  attack  com- 
menced. The  first  ball  thrown  into  the  town  came 
with  a  tremendous  noise  directly  over  our  heads. 
Our  guards,  filled  with  consternation  and  amaze- 
ment, seemingly  unable  to  execute  their  murderous 
orders,  slunk  away  into  one  corner  of  the  prison, 
where  they  remained  perfectly  quiet,  until  a  broad- 
side from  the  Lifiey,  which  made  the  prison  shake 
and  tremble  to  its  very  foundations,  so  effectually 
frightened  them,  that,  like  children,  they  cried  out 
through  fear;  and  openly  declared  their  intention 
of  breaking  open  the  door.    They  soon  found  means 


OF   ADOXIEAM    'UDSON.  139 

to  break  open  the  door :  which  being  clone,  they 
all  went  out,  but  took  the  precaution  to  secure  the 
door  again,  bj  fastening  it  wdth  rattans  upon  the 
outside." 

About  an  hour  hiter,  during  the  cessation  of  firing, 
forty  or  fifty  armed  and  furious  natives  rushed  into 
the  prison.  "  We  were  instantly  seized,"  continues 
Mr.  Wade,  "  dragged  out  of  the  prison,  our  clothes 
torn  from  our  bodies,  and  our  arms  drawn  behind 
us  with  a  cord,  so  tight  that  it  was  impossible  to 
move  them.  I  thought  mine  would  have  been  cut 
entirely  to  the  bone :  indeed,  we  were  treated  just 
as  they  would  treat  criminals,  whom  they  were  about 
to  lead  to  the  place  of  execution.  We  were  now  put 
in  front  of  several  armed  men,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
goad  us  along  with  the  points  of  their  spears.  After 
making  an  exhibition  of  us  through  almost  every 
street  in  the  town,  we  were  at  length  brought  to  the 
Yongdau,  or  place  w^here  all  causes  are  tried,  and 
sentences  are  passed.  Here  sat  the  dispenser  of  life 
and  death,  surrounded  by  other  ofiicers  of  the  town. 
He  ordered  us  to  be  placed  before  him  in  a  kneeling 
posture,  with  our  faces  to  the  ground ;  to  which  we 
submitted  in  the  most  respectful  manner.  On  one 
side  of  us  was  a  noisy  rabble,  crying  out  all  to- 
gether :  '  Let  them  be  put  to  death ! '  The  cries 
of  the  multitude  prevailed.  The  executioner,  who 
stood  on  one  side  with  the  knife  in  his  hand,  waiting 
the  decision,  was  ordered  to  proceed." 

At  this  moment,  Mr.  Hough  begged  to  be  allowed 
to  go  on  board  the  frigate  which  bore  the  English  flag, 


14:0  THE   MISSIONAEY    LABOES 

that  lie  might  jDersuacle  the  invaders  not  to  resume 
the  discharge  of  arms.  Just  at  that  moment,  the 
roar  of  cannon  was  heard,  and  the  officers,  pale  with 
affright,  fled  a  short  distance  and  hid  themselves 
under  the  banks  of  a  tank.  The  missionaries  thus 
unceremoniously  left  on  their  knees,  with  their  necks 
bared,  ready  for  the  executioner's  stroke,  w^ere  per- 
mitted to  rise.  In  the  midst  of  the  firing,  they 
were  soon  hun-ied  to  the  outskirts  of  the  city, 
^vhere  Mr.  Hough's  proposal  was  renewed  and 
acce23ted. 

As  soon  as  he  had  started  on  his  errand,  Mr.  Wade 
and  the  other  prisoners  were  consigned  to  a  wretched 
dungeon,  and  ordered  to  be  put  to  death,  in  case  Mr. 
Hough  failed  to  succeed.  The  English  landed  the 
next  morning ;  when  a  party  of  Burmans,  who  had 
early  collected  around  the  dungeon,  seeing  the  "red 
coats  "  approaching,  fled  for  life ;  and  the  prisoners, 
after  two  days'  and  three  nights'  suffering  in  chains, 
were  set  at  liberty. 

During  this  time,  Mrs.  Hough  and  Mrs.  Wade, 
though  not  formally  arrested,  were  greatly  perse- 
cuted, and  suffered  extremely  from  anxiety  ;  and  the 
converts  were  obliged  to  scatter  and  conceal  them- 
selves, all  fleeing  to  the  jungle,  except  Moung  Shwa- 
ba.  He  remained  at  the  mission-house,  with  the 
female  missionaries,  till  all  three  were  obliged,  in  the 
disguise  of  Burmans,  to  seek  a  hiding-place  from 
the  blood-thirsty  rabble.  But  for  the  protection 
of  a  bamboo  shed,  they  would  probably  have  been 
slain. 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  141 

It  was  a  providential  deliverance,  on  all  sides,  and 
happy  was  the  meeting  of  husbands  and  wives.  "  I 
need  not  attempt  to  describe  the  feelings  produced 
by  meeting  again,  after  we  had  passed  through  so 
many  and  so  great  dangers ;  but,  at  length,  we  found 
ourselves  again  all  together,  well,  and  beyond  the 
power  of  barbarous  and  unmerciful  Burmans.  For 
my  own  part,  I  was  rendered  almost  delirious  by  so 
sudden  a  transition  from  the  deepest  distress  to  the 
highest  pitch  of  joy.  In  reflecting  upon  those  scenes 
of  danger  through  which  we  all  passed,  and  the  nar- 
row escapes  which  were  afforded,  when  hope  seemed 
entirely  gone,  I  cannot  help  thinking,  that  our  deliv- 
erance was  almost  miraculous.  More  than  once,  the 
danger  which  threatened  us  was  so  near,  that  I  could 
only  say :  '  Lord,  save  now^  or  we  perish.'  God  was 
my  only  hope ;  and  this  hope  did  not  fail  me,  even 
in  the  greatest  extremity.  O  how  invaluable  is  the 
hope  of  the  gospel !  which,  like  an  anchor  to  the 
soul,  sure  and  steadfast,  enters  into  that  which  is 
within  the  vail !  And,  standing  upon  the  very  border 
of  eternity,  as  we  viewed  ourselves,  how  insignificant 
appeared  all  the  objects  which  so  much  attract  us  in 
this  world ;  how  vast  the  concerns  of  a  never-ending 
duration ;  and  how  invaluable  a  well-grounded  hope 
in  the  merits  of  Him,  whose  name  is  the  only  one 
given  under  heaven,  and  among  men,  whereby  we 
must  be  saved ! " 

Eangoon  was  now  deserted  by  the  natives ;  the 
means  of  subsistence  were  almost  entirely  cut  off; 
the  rainy  season  was  setting  in,  and  a  raging  and 


142  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

extremely  fatal  fever  was  spreading  among  the  Eu- 
ropean troops.  Under  these  circumstances,  Messrs. 
Houo^h  and  Wade  decided  to  remove  to  Calcutta,  and 
there  remain  until  the  close  of  the  war.  While 
there,  they  made  considerable  progi-ess  in  the  Bur- 
man  language,  and  published  a  dictionary  in  that 
dialect,  compiled  principally  from  the  labors  of 
Messrs.  Judson,  Colman,  Carey,  and  the  associates 
of  the  latter. 


CHAPTEK   XII. 


Movementa  at  Ava,  on  the  Fall  of  Rangoon  —  Arrest,  Examination,  and  Discharge 
of  Mr.  Judson  and  Dr.  Price  —  Their  confinement  and  sufferings  in  the  Death 
Prison  —  Persecution,  Trials,  and  Heroic  Conduct  of  Mrs.  Judson. 

The  intelligence  that  Rangoon  had  fallen,  was 
received  at  Ava  on  the  23d  of  May,  eleven  days 
after  it  had  taken  place:  and,  the  next  morning, 
writes  Dr.  Price,  "twenty-five  gold  boats,  each 
mounting  a  small  piece  of  artillery,  and  well  pro- 
vided with  muskets,  started  with  orders  to  raise  the 
whole  country,  if  necessary,  to  drive  out  the  insid- 
ious banditti,  who  had  come  thus  unawares  upon  an 
unoffending  town.  The  current  of  feeling  was  now 
so  strong  against  the  English  residents,  that  Mr. 
Gouger*  sent  over  to  me  to  inquire,  if  it  would  not 
be  more  safe  for  him  to  remove  to  Sagaing,  and  put 
up  with  me  out  of  the  way  of  the  popular  fury.  I 
informed  him  I  should  be  very  happy  to  entertain 
him  at  any  other  time ;  but,  at  present,  I  thought 

*A  young  English  gentleman,  then  engaged  in  mercantile  business, 
at  Ava, 


144  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

our  herding  together  would  only  excite  suspicion, 
and  hasten  the  ruin  of  us  both." 

A  few  days  later,  Messrs.  Judson  and  Price  were 
summoned  to  the  secret  council  chamber,  where  they 
were  questioned  separately  in  regard  to  their  coun- 
try, avocation,  acquaintance  with  certain  English- 
men, &c.  When  the  examination  had  closed,  they 
were  allowed  to  return  to  their  houses ;  but  with  the 
understanding  that  they  should  stand  ready  for  a 
fresh  summons,  should  such  a  step  be  deemed  expe- 
dient. Three  or  four  Englishmen,  an  Armenian,  and 
a  Greek,  who  had  been  previously  examined,  being 
supposed  to  be  in  the  league  with  the  army  at  Ran- 
goon, were  remanded  to  confinement,  and  were  kept 
in  separate  guard-rooms  adjoining  the  chamber 
where  they  were  examined. 

It  appears  that  the  Burmans  were  so  ignorant  of 
the  relations  in  which  the  Americans  and  English 
stood  to  each  other,  as  to  suppose  the  former  were 
subjects  of  the  latter.  Indeed,  they  thought  all 
white  men,  but  the  French,  stood  in  the  same  position 
to  the  British  crown ;  and  that  France,  even,  after 
the  overthrow  of  E"apoleon,  lost  her  national  sove- 
reignty. As  Americans  and  Englishmen  speak  the 
same  language,  and  are  most  naturally  confounded, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  the  ignorant  and  prejudiced 
Burmans  were  somewhat  severe  in  their  treatment  of 
the  missionaries. 

"  On  the  8th  of  June,"  writes  Dr.  Price,  "  an 
order  was  given '  to  keep  safe  all  the  foreigners.'    On 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  145 

tlm  very  morning  I  had  unwittingly  resolved  to 
visit,  once  more,  our  friend.  Prince  M.  On  my  way 
I  heard  a  friendly  voice  calling  out  to  me ;  when 
turning  aside,  I  found  it  to  be  no  other  than  my  first 
and  oldest  friend,  Moung  Yay,  the  keeper  of  the 
king's  wardrobe.  He  just  gave  me  a  hint  of  my 
danger,  and  then  hurried  away.  Darkly  lowering 
seemed  my  prospect,  yet  I  pushed  on  to  the  house  of 
Prince  M.;  but  all  his  kind  soothing  could  not  dissi- 
pate the  cloud  which  hung  like  night  upon  me. 
Wliile  I  was  sitting  here,  the  five  white  men  were 
taken  from  the  king's  guard-room,  stripped  of  all 
their  articles  of  clothing,  except  the  shirt  and  panta- 
loons, dragged  out  to  the  loots,  or  house  of  lords, 
thence  hurried  forward  to  the  court  house  in  the 
greatest  imaginable  suspense,  and  delivered  over  to 
the  keeper  of  the  king's  prison,  called,  by  w^ay  of 
distinction,  'Stick  at  nothing,'  or  'Dread  nought.' 
Here  they  were  each  honored  with  three  pairs  of 
chains,  and  strung  on  a  pole  together.  Mr.  J.  was 
just  about  preparing  for  dinner  when  a  number  of 
peo]3le  entered  his  ground.  On  asking  two  or  three 
women,  (who  were  hastily  mounting  his  veranda,) 
what  they  wanted,  they  replied  that  they  had  come 
to  look  on  ;  in  a  moment  the  veranda  was  thronged, 
and  a  rough  voice  called  out  for  the  teacher.  Mr.  J. 
came  forward,  and,  without  any  warning,  was  imme 
diately  siezed,  thrown  on  the  ground,  and  his  arms 
tied  with  all  the  force  the  barbarian  was  capable  of 
Mrs.  J.  came  forward,  in  agony  better  to  be  con 
ceived  than  described,  and  ofiered  to  give  money  to 

10 


146  THE  MISSIONARY   LAEOES 

have  tlie  rope  eased  off  her  husband.  But  the 
wretch,  instead  of  listening  to  the  grief-impassioned 
request,  cried  out,  '  She  is  also  a  white  foreigner :  tie 
her  too.'  For  a  moment,  Mr.  J.'s  own  exquisite 
torment  was  forgotten  in  the  heart-rending  apprehen- 
sion, that  Mrs.  J.  was  about  to  undergo  the  same 
cruel  indignity.  The  assurance,  however,  that  this 
was  not  the  case,  softened  the  pain  occasioned  by 
the  violence  offered  in  dragging  him  roughly  away 
toward  the  town,  so  tightly  bound  that  he  could  not 
half  draw  his  breath.  At  a  quarter  of  a  mile's  dis- 
tance, he  was  again  thrown  down  in  the  street,  the 
cords  drawn  more  tightly,  with  repeated  strokes  of 
the-knee  on  his  back,  so  as  almost  to  induce  faint- 
ing, and  money  demanded  in  order  to  their  being 
loosened. 

"A  christian  native  who  had  followed  at  a  dis- 
tance, now  came  forward  and  offered  to  go  back  for 
the  money ;  but,  before  his  return,  the  anguish  en- 
dured was  so  great,  that  Mr.  J.  was  obliged  to 
appeal  to  the  numerous  bystanders.  'Is  there  no 
one  who  knows  me ;  is  there  no  one  who  will  be  my 
security  for  the  money,  no  one  who  pities  me?  I 
am  a  priest,  and,  though  a  foreign  one,  deserve  not 
such  indignity,  such  torture.'  But  none  stepped 
forward,  and  the  cruel  monster  persisted  in  tighten- 
ing the  cords  until  the  arrival  of  Moung  Ing  with 
ten  ticals  of  pure  silver,  when  his  anus  were  some- 
what relieved,  so  as  to  allow  a  more  free  respiration, 
and  he  was  again  hurried  forward  a  distance  of 
nearly  two  miles  to  the  prison-house,  and  there,  after 


OP    ABOMRAM    JtJDSON.  147 

being  fettered,  strung  on  the  same  bamboo  with  the 
preceding  five  unha^Dpy  men. 

"  In  the  meantime,  I  had  left  the  house  of  Prince 
M.,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  having  just 
missed  the  horrid  sight  of  Mr.  J.'s  agony,  and  had 
reached  the  river  side  with  a  heavy  heart,  which  was 
not  at  all  lightened  by  a  black  look  I  there  received 
fi-om  the  cliief  man  of  the  golden  navy,  who  had,  on 
all  previous  occasions,  met  me  with  a  smile.  I 
passed  over  to  Sagaing,  fully  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  something  dreadful  was  approaching,  though  I 
knew  not  what.  Ilavino;  arrived  at  home,  the  si2:ht 
of  my  dear  wife  and  child  was  painful  in  the  ex- 
treme. I  dared  communicate  nothing  of  my  appre- 
hensions ;  but,  after  a  slight  attempt  to  dine,  hurried 
to  the  top  of  my  house  and  endeavored  alone  to 
compose  myself;  but  all  in  vain.  At  dusk  I  was 
joined  by  Mrs.  P.  and  child;  we  had  taken  only  a 
few  turns,  when  a  dreadful  noise  was  heard  below. 
Knowing  too  well  the  cause  of  the  uproar,  I  hastened 
down,  and  was  informed  that  more  than  fifty  men 
were  preparing  to  surround  and  take  possession  of 
my  house.  My  scattered  senses  seemed  to  collect  of 
themselves ;  I  saw  the  long  di'eaded  hour  had  ar- 
rived, and  I  w^as  myself  again  —  yea,  more  ;  I  was, 
or  seemed  to  myself  to  be,  supernaturally  assisted ;  I 
looked  down  on  the  treacherous  breach  of  all  for- 
merly plighted  royal  faith ;  I  felt  a  martyr,  and  deter- 
mined to  shrink  from  nothing  which  was  before  me. 
In  answer  to  loud  demands  from  without,  I  opened 
the  door,  was  ordered  immediately  to  sit  down  on 


14:8  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

the  floor,  to  give  an  inventory  of  my  effects,  to  shut 
and  bar  the  doors  and  windows,  and  follow  them. 
Having  committed  all  to  the  care  of  my  wife,  who, 
by  this  time,  had  found  her  way  to  me,  I  commended 
her  to  our  common  Protector,  and  took  my  leave  of 
my  newly  built  mansion,  never  expecting  to  enter  it 
more.  My  conductors  attempted,  at  first,  to  extort 
money,  by  threatening  to  tie  my  arms  ;  but  finding 
me  ready  to  submit  to  any  thing,  they  betrayed  their 
want  of  any  warrant  to  use  me  roughly  ;  and  chang- 
ing their  line  of  conduct,  immediately  began  to  treat 
me  uncommonly  well,  and  actually  carried  an  um- 
brella over  me  to  guard  me  from  the  rain,  all  the 
way  to  the  government  house.  Arrived  here,  the 
great  man  said  I  was  called  for  to  be  asked  some 
questions,  he  supposed ;  the  real  cause  he  knew  not ; 
but  we  must  repair  to  the  court  house. 

"  Hand  in  hand  we  proceeded  to  the  young  dau, 
or  court  house,  where  I  was  delivered  over  to  the 
Ava  town  clerk,  and  heard  the  laconic  order, '  P.  and 
J.  catch,  and  put  in  prison.'  My  heart  sunk  at  the 
appalling  words ;  still  they  seemed  repeated ;  again 
and  again  I  repeated  them  to  myself,  till  the  town 
clerk  roused  me  from  my  reverie,  by  diving  into  my 
pockets,  and  securing  every  thing  movable  about 
me.  The  head  executioner  now  received  a  wink, 
which  authorized  him  to  seize  me  rather  rudely  by 
the  shoulder,  and  caused  me  to  descend  without  the 
trouble  of  seeking  the  stairs.  I  was  now  led  at  a 
quick  pace  across  the  street,  ushered  into  a  small 
compound  or  yard,   and  ordered  to  sit.    I  made 


OP   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  149 

toward  a  bench;  but  was  pushed  ofi'  it.  I  then 
seated  myself  on  a  small  stone  slab,  which  I  soon 
found  was  meant  for  another  purpose.  For,  while 
undergoing  an  examination  as  to  my  name,  place  of 
abode,  occupation,  &c.,  a  man  with  his  hands  full  of 
irons,  came  forward,  and  rudely  shoving  me  oil*  the 
stone,  seized  one  of  my  legs,  and  began  knocking  on 
one  pair  of  fetters  after  another,  until  I  thought  he 
was  never  going  to  stop. 

"  My  heart  now  died  within  me.  I  looked  around ; 
all  was  gloomy,  and  dark,  and  silent,  except  the  dull 
clankino^  of  chains.  Four  or  five  vouns^  women  in 
a  like  predicament  manifested  some  pity ;  but  all 
else  was  savage,  unfeeling  complacency.  My  three 
chains  were  no  sooner  well  fastened  on,  than  I  was 
ordered  roughly  to  go  in.  A  little  bamboo  door 
opened,  and  I  rose  to  go  tow^ard  it.  But  O,  who 
can  describe  my  sensations !  shackled  like  a  common 
felon,  in  the  care  of  hangmen,  the  offscouring  of  the 
country,  turned  like  a  dog  into  his  kennel,  my  wife, 
my  dear  family,  left  to  suffer  alone  all  the  rudeness 
such  wretches  are  capable  of.  The  worst,  however, 
was  yet  to  come ;  for,  making  the  best  of  my  way 
up  the  high  step,  I  was  ushered  into  the  grand 
apartment ;  horror  of  horrors,  what  a  sight !  nevei 
to  my  dying  day  shall  I  forget  the  scene;  —  a  dim 
lamp  in  the  midst,  just  making  darkness  visible,  and 
discovering  to  my  horrified  gaze,  sixty  or  sev^enty 
wretched  objects,  some  in  long  rows  made  fast  in 
the  stocks,  some  strung  on  poles,  some  simply  fet- 
tered ;  but  all  sensible  of  a  new  accession  of  misery, 


loO  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

in  the  approach  of  a  new  prisoner.  Stupefied,  I 
stopped  to  gaze  till  goaded  on ;  I  proceeded  toward 
the  further  end,  when  I  again  halted.  A  new  and 
unexpected  sight  met  my  eyes.  Till  now  I  had 
been  kept  m  ignorance  of  the  fate  of  my  compan- 
ions ;  a  long  row  of  white  objects,  stretched  on  the 
floor,  in  a  most  crowded  situation,  revealed  to  me, 
however,  but  too  well,  their  sad  case,  and  I  was 
again  urged  forward.  Poor  old  11.  wishing  to  retain 
the  end  of  the  bamboo,  made  way  for  me  to  be 
placed  along  side  of  Mr.  J.  '  We  all  hoped  you 
would  have  escaped,  you  were  so  long  coming,'  was 
the  first  friendly  salutation  I  had  yet  received ;  but 
alas !  it  was  made  by  friends  whose  sympathy  was 
now  unavailing. 

"  Here,  side  by  side,  we  were  allowed  the  only 
gratification  left,  of  condoling,  in  the  Burman  lan- 
guage, with  each  other.  '  Now  you  have  arrived 
and  our  number  is  complete,  I  suppose  they  will 
proceed  to  murder  us,'  was  the  first  thing  suggested ; 
and  no  one  could  say  it  was  improbable.  To  prepare 
for  a  violent  death,  for  immediate  execution,  was 
our  consequent  resolution.  And  now  we  began  to 
feel  our  Strength,  our  Stronghold,  our  Deliverer,  in 
this  dark  abode  of  misery  and  despair.  He  who  has 
said,  I  will  never  leave  you  nor  Ibrsake  you,  mani- 
fested his  gracious  presence  ;  a  calm  sweet  peace 
succeeded  our  hurried  minds,  and  alternate  prayer 
and  repeating  of  hymns,  soon  brought  our  minds 
to  a  state  of  comparative  gladness  and  joy.     "We 


OF   APONIKAM   JTJDSON.  151 

became  lifted  above  our  persecutors  ;  and  the  bymn 
containing  the  words  — 

'Let  men  of  spite  against  me  join. 
They  are  the  sword,  the  hand  is  thine  ; ' 

was  peculiarly  applicable  and  refreshing.  ISTow,  ye 
scoffers,  say  what  you  will,  here  is  a  triumph  you 
can  not  attain.  Religion !  O,  the  sweets  of  reli- 
gious communion  with  God !  '  Let  them  now,  even 
now  come,'  we  said  ;  '  we  are  prepared  for  the  worst 
you  can  do ;  you  can  not  deprive  us  of  our  hope  in 
God,  our  sweet  peace  of  mind.'  Thus  we  whiled 
away  the  hours  of  the  night.  ITature  shuddered, 
but  the  soul  was  unshaken :  our  confidence  w^as  in 
the  Hock  of  Ages.  AYe  were  not  left,  however, 
without  many  a  pang ;  for  ever  and  anon  the  situa- 
tion of  our  dear  families  presented  itself  to  us,  and 
the  thought  of  what  they  might  even  now  be  suffer- 
ing on  our  account,  and  in  their  own  persons,  was 
like  racks  and  tortures  to  our  hearts.  Still  we  re- 
flected, they  too  are  in  the  hands  of  a  merciful  God ; 
they  too  may  be  now  enjoying  a  portion  of  that  sup- 
port which  we  ourselves  feel,  and  we  concluded  to 
commit  them  to  his  Almighty  keeping,  and  our 
minds  were  much  relieved.  The  night  was  rainy, 
and  we  were  much  incommoded  by  the  circum- 
stance ;  the  stench  of  the  place  was  almost  intoler- 
able ;  we  had  no  bed  but  the  greasy,  filthy  floor  of 
our  prison ;  and,  unable  to  move  our  bodies  for  the 
bamboo,  which  passed  between  our  legs,  our  situa- 
tion became  exceedingly  distressing,  when  at  length 


152  THE    MISSION AEY    LABOps 

the  morning  dawned  upon  oiu*  sleepless  eyes.  For 
a  long  time  we  were  doubtful  of  the  daylight.  The 
rain  continued  to  descend  in  torrents,  and  no  win- 
dow or  door  was  there  to  the  room.  At  length  the 
bamboo  wicket  was  opened,  and  a  figm-e  approached 
us,  of  a  most  terrific  appearance  and  a  horrid  coun- 
tenance. He  jocularly  saluted  us,  hoped  we  had 
slept  well,  and  in  reply  to  our  repeated  requests, 
said  he  w^ould  order  us  to  be  let  out  for  five  minutes. 
He  was  as  good  as  his  word.  And  now  commences 
the  history  of  our  luxuries.  First  and  foremost,  to 
find  ourselves  again  on  our  feet,  to  be  able  to  move 
our  limbs,  shackled  as  they  were.  Ye  who  ride  for 
pleasure,  believe  me  when  I  assert,  you  never  en- 
joyed an  hour  worthy  to  be  compared  with  these 
few  minutes  ;  and  then  to  get  out  into  the  fresh  air ! 
the  rain,  the  mud,  we  heeded  not,  our  enjoyment 
was  pm^e  ;  but  alas  !  like  all  things  here  below,  soon 
to  cease.  Again  we  were  turned  in,  and  notwith- 
standing our  remonstrances,  again  obliged  to  take 
our  station  as  before.  The  arrival  of  our  breakfast 
afforded  another  short  interval  of  relief;  but  we 
w^ere  not  allowed  to  communicate  with  our  people 
who  brought  it,  and  hence  still  kept  ignorant  of  the 
situation  of  our  dear  families.  Our  appetites  being 
not  very  keen,  were  soon  satisfied  and,  our  dishes 
sent  away,  Vv^e  relapsed  into  our  former  reflection, 
What  is  to  be  done  with  us  ?  The  night  was  incon- 
venient to  have  us  executed ;  no  doubt  the  day  will 
be  fixed  on  for  the  purpose.  Every  thing  around 
ns  was  alarming — we  were  in  the  worst  prison,  in 


OF   ADONTEAM   JUDSON.  153 

the  worst  2^art  of  it,  and  most  rigorously  treated. 
Our  crime,  too,  admitted  of  no  advocate,  the  popu- 
lace even  seemed  to  join  in  cursing  us.  Among 
our  fellow-prisoners,  few  sympathized  with  us ;  and 
it  was  the  invariable  custom  of  the  country,  that 
such  as  we  should  not  be  permitted  to  live.  Many 
groans  were  uttered,  and  many  tears  shed,  before 

this  weary  day  passed  off.     Poor  old thought  it 

a  very  hard  case  he  should  have  served  the  king  of 
Burmah  forty  years,  and  be  rewarded  thus  at  last. 

"  Mr.  J.,  Mr.  G.,  and  myself  spent  the  day  in  as 
composed  a  frame  as  could  be  expected,  considering 
our  noisy  company,  want  of  rest,  and  uneasy  sit- 
uation. The  night  passed  off  tolerably  well ;  '  tired 
nature's  sweet  restorer '  cast  in  over  us  the  mantle  of 
a  temporary  oblivion. 

"  The  next  morning,  Mr.  J.  was  called  out  early, 
by  some  man  of  consequence,  who  wanted  to  know 
if  he  meant  to  stay  inside  forever ;  asked  why  he 
had  not  applied  with  a  proper  present,  to  procure 
the  liberty  of  the  yard — which  would  have  saved 
him  the  trouble  of  calling  at  this  time  to  offer  him 
the  choice  of  paying  three  hundred  ticals,  (four  hun- 
dred S.  R.)  or  of  being  still  more  rigorously  treated. 
Mr.  J.  told  him  it  was  an  exorbitant  demand ;  that 
he  was  a  priest,  and  ought  not  to  be  compelled  to 
pay  money  at  all.  On  which  the  man,  who  proved 
to  be  the  town  clerk,  assumed  an  air  of  high  author- 
ity; said  he  would  go  down  to  his  house  and  see  for 
himself  whether  he  had  the  ability  of  paying  or  not ; 
ordered  him  immediately  to  give  in  a  true  account 


154:  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

of  all  his  efiects,  and  bj  no  means  to  leave  out  an 
article;  at  the  same  time  nsing  very  abusive  and 
threatening  language.  This  unauthorized  conduct 
excited  the  indignation  of  a  woman  present,  (Ma 
Cathai,)  who  sharply  interposed,  and  the  examina- 
tion was  stopped.  I  was  then  called  out,  and  the 
same  demand  was  repeated,  to  which  I  made  the 
same  reply.  Highly  exasperated,  he  called  for  the 
old  jailor,  and  ordered  me  back  to  be  more  tightly 
kept  (kyat  kyat  'tah.)  Mr.  J.  was  also  ordered  in, 
and  a  hint  given,  that  if  one  hundred  pieces  were 
given,  we  should  be  let  out  of  the  close  room.  Mr. 
G.  and  Mr.  R.  were  let  out  this  morning,  on  the 
payment  of  about  four  hundred. 

"  Just  after  breakfast,  a  meeting  took  place  be- 
tween Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.,  of  such  a  nature  as  to  affect 
even  to  sobbing  our  hardened  keeper,  who  was  also 
a  fellow  prisoner.  We  were  now  informed,  for  the 
first  time,  that  immediately  after  Mr.  J.'s  departure, 
the  house  was  surrounded  with  guards,  everything  in 
the  yard  broken  or  destroyed,  or  carried  away,  and 
at  length  she  was  obliged  to  suspect  them  of  intend- 
ing the  same  thing  in  the  house.  She  accordingly 
retired  within,  and  having  fastened  all  the  doors, 
remained  quietly  to  wait  the  event.  Soon  the  de- 
mons appeared  at  the  door,  and  ordered  it  to  be 
opened,  threatening  to  break  it  down.  But  not  ob- 
taining their  purpose,  they  seized  on  the  cook  and 
consumer,  tied  them  by  the  feet,  and  hoisted  them 
toward  the  ceiling.  The  cries  of  these  poor  wretches 
effected  what  the  threats  of  the  others  could  not ; 


OF   ADONIHAM  JTJDSON.  155 

and  to  relieve  lier  people,  Mrs.  J.  opened  a  wicket 
and  threw  out  to  them  six  or  seven  handkerchiefs, 
on  which  they  desisted  from  fm*ther  violence,  keep- 
ing up,  nevertheless,  a  most  deafening  noise  the 
whole  night.  In  the  morning,  the  head  of  the  dis- 
trict came  to  see  her,  to  whom  she  complained  of  the 
conduct  of  his  people.  On  which  he  reprimanded 
them  severely,  ordered  them  to  give  back  the  hand- 
kerchiefs, and  in  a  day  or  two  removed  them  entirely 
from  the  house :  when  Mrs.  J.  was  left  quite  at  liberty 
to  go  where  she  chose ;  of  which  liberty  we  often,  ■ 
very  often  reaped  the  benefit;  for,  although  her 
house  was  full  two  miles  off,  she  almost  daily  walked 
this  distance,  to  alleviate  our  miseries,  and  complain 
to  the  proper  authority  when  the  understrappers 
used  us  ill." 

During  the  fii'st  six  or  seven  months  of  their  im- 
prisonment, the  missionaries,  together  with  the  other 
white  prisoners,  were  subject  to  frequent  and  most 
outrageous  extortions,  as  well  as  most  cruel  oppres- 
sion. "Sometimes  sums  of  money  were  demanded, 
sometimes  pieces  of  cloth,  and  handkerchiefs;  at 
other  times,  an  order  would  be  issued,  that  the 
white  foreigners  should  not  speak  to  each  other,  or 
have  any  communication  with  their  friends  without. 
Then,  again,  the  servants  were  forbidden  to  carry  in 
their  food  without  an  extra  fee." 

The  sufferings  of  the  prisoners,  and  her  own  trials 
and  sorrows,  are  touchingly  described  by  Mrs.  Jud- 
son,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  her  brother-in-law : 


156  THE   MISSIONAEY   LABORS 

"The  war,"  she  says,  "  was  now  prosecuted  with 
all  the  energy  the  Burmese  government  possessed. 
New  troops  were  continually  raised  and  sent  down 
the  river,  and  as  frequently  reports  returned  of  their 
being  all  cut  off.  But  that  part  of  the  Bunnese 
army  stationed  in  Arracan,  under  the  command  of 
Bandula,  had  been  more  successful.  Three  hundred 
prisoners,  at  one  time,  were  sent  to  the  capital,  as  an 
evidence  of  the  victory  that  had  been  gained.  The 
king  began  to  think  that  none  but  Bandula  under- 
stood the  art  of  fio^htino;  with  foreio^ners ;  conse- 
quently  his  majesty  recalled  him,  with  the  design  of 
his  taking  command  of  the  army  that  had  been  sent 
to  Eangoon.  On  his  arrival  at  Ava,  he  was  received 
at  court  in  the  most  flattering  manner,  and  w^as  the 
recij^ient  of  every  favor  in  the  j)Ower  of  the  king 
and  queen  to  bestow.  He  was,  in  fact,  wdiile  at 
Ava,  the  acting  king.  I  was  resolved  to  apply  to 
him  for  the  release  of  missionaries,  though  some 
members  of  government  advised  me  not,  lest  he, 
being  reminded  of  their  existence,  should  issue  an 
immediate  order  for  their  execution.  But  it  was  my 
last  hope,  and,  as  it  proved,  my  last  application. 

"  Your  brother  wrote  a  petition  privately,  stating 
every  circumstance  that  would  have  a  tendency  to 
interest  him  in  our  behalf  With  fear  and  trembling, 
I  approached  him,  while  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of 
flatterers ;  and  one  of  his  secretaries  took  the  peti- 
tion, and  read  it  aloud.  After  hearing  it,  he  spake 
to  me  in  an  obliging  manner — asked  several  ques- 
tions relative  to  the  teachers — said  he  would  think 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSOX.  157 

of  the  subject  —  and  bade  me  come  again.  I  ran  to 
the  prison  to  communicate  the  favorable  reception  to 
Mr.  Judson ;  and  we  both  had  sanguine  hopes  that 
his  release  was  at  liand.  But  the  governor  of  the 
city  expressed  his  amazement  at  my  temerity,  and 
said  he  doubted  not  it  would  be  the  means  of 
destroying  all  the  prisoners.  In  a  day  or  two, 
however,  I  went  again,  and  took  a  present  of  con- 
siderable value.  Bandula  was  not  at  home ;  but  his 
lady,  after  ordering  the  present  to  be  taken  into 
another  room,  modestly  informed  me  that  she  was 
ordered  by  her  husband  to  make  the  following  com- 
munication— that  he  was  now  very  busily  employed 
in  making  preparations  for  Rangoon ;  but  that  when 
he  had  retaken  that  place,  and  expelled  the  English, 
he  would  return  and  release  all  the  prisoners. 

"  Thus  again  were  all  our  hopes  dashed  ;  and  we 
felt  that  we  could  do  nothing  more,  but  sit  down  and 
submit  to  our  lot.  From  this  time  we  gave  up  all 
idea  of  being  released  from  prison,  till  the  termina- 
tion of  the  w^ar ;  but  1  was  still  obliged  to  visit  con- 
stantly some  of  the  members  of  government,  with 
little  presents,  particularly  the  governor  of  the  city, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  situation  of  the  pris- 
oners tolerable.  I  generally  spent  the  greater  part 
of  every  other  day  at  the  governor's  house,  giving 
him  all  the  information  relative  to  American  man- 
ners, customs,  government,  &c.  He  used  to  be  so 
much  gratified  w4th  my  communications,  as  to  feel 
greatly  disappointed,  if  any  occurrence  prevented 
my  spending  the  usual  hours  at  his  house. 


158  THE   MISSIONARY  LABOES 

"  Some  months  after  yom^  brother's  imprisonment, 
I  was  permitted  to  make  a  little  bamboo  room  in  the 
prison  enclosures,  where  he  could  be  much  by  him- 
self, and  where  I  was  sometimes  allowed  to  spend 
two  or  three  hours.  It  so  haj)pened  that  the  two 
months  he  occupied  this  place,  was  the  coldest  part 
of  the  year,  when  he  would  have  suffered  much  in 
the  open  shed  he  had  previously  occupied.  After 
the  birth  of  your  little  niece,  I  was  unable  to  visit 
the  jDrison  and  the  governor  as  before,  and  found  I 
had  lost  considerable  influence,  previously  gained ; 
for  he  was  not  so  forward  to  hear  my  petitions  when 
any  difficulty  occurred,  as  he  formerly  had  been. 
When  Maria  was  nearly  two  months  old,  her  father 
one  morning  sent  me  word  that  he  and  all  the  white 
prisoners  were  put  into  the  inner  prison,  in  five  pairs 
of  fetters  each,  that  his  little  room  had  been  torn 
down,  and  his  mat,  pillow,  &c.,  been  taken  by  the 
jailers.  This  was  to  me  a  dreadful  shock,  as  I 
thought  at  once  it  was  only  a  prelude  to  greater 
evils. 

"  I  should  have  mentioned  before  this,  the  defeat 
of  Bandula,  his  escape  to  Danooyboo,  the  complete 
destruction  of  his  army,  and  the  loss  of  ammunition, 
and  the  consternation  this  intelligence  produced  at 
court.  The  English  army  had  left  Eangoon,  and 
were  advancing  toward  Prome,  when  these  severe 
measures  were  taken  with  the  prisoners. 

"  I  went  immediately  to  the  governor's  house.  He 
was  not  at  home ;  but  had  ordered  his  wife  to  tell 
me,  when  I  came,  not  to  ask  to  have  the  additional 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  159 

fetters  taken  off,  or  the  prisoners  released;  for  it 
could  not  be  done.  I  went  to  the  prison-gate ;  but 
was  forbid  to  enter.  All  was  as  still  as  death — not 
a  -sviiite  face  to  be  seen,  or  a  vestige  of  Mr.  J.'s  little 
room  remaining.  I  was  determined  to  see  the  gov- 
ernor, and  know  the  cause  of  this  additional  oppres- 
sion ;  and  for  this  purpose,  returned  to  town  the  same 
evening,  at  an  hour  I  knew  he  would  be  at  home. 
He  was  in  his  audience  room,  and,  as  I  entered, 
looked  up  without  speaking,  but  exhibited  a  mixture 
of  shame  and  affected  answer  in  his  countenance.  I 
began  by  saying,  your  lordship  has  hitherto  treated 
us  with  the  kindness  of  a  father.  Our  obligations  to 
you  are  very  great.  We  have  looked  to  you  for  pro- 
tection fi-om  oppression  and  cruelty.  You  have,  in 
many  instances,  mitigated  the  sufferings  of  those 
unfortunate,  though  innocent  beings,  committed  to 
your  charge.  You  have  promised  me,  particularly, 
that  you  would  stand  by  me  to  the  last,  and  though 
you  should  receive  an  order  from  the  king,  you 
would  not  put  Mr.  J.  to  death.  What  crime  has  he 
committed  to  deserve  such  additional  punishment  ? 
The  old  man's  hard  heart  was  melted  ;  for  he  wept 
like  a  child.  '  I  pity  you,  Tsa-yar-ga-dau,  (a  name  by 
which  he  always  called  me,)  I  knew  you  would  make 
me  feel ;  I  therefore  forbade  your  application.  But 
you  must  believe  me  when  I  say,  I  do  not  wish  to 
increase  the  sufferings  of  the  prisoners.  When  I  am 
ordered  to  execute  them,  the  least  that  I  can  do,  is  to 
put  them  out  of  sight.  I  will  now  tell  you,'  con- 
tinued he,  'what  I  have  never  told  you  before,  that 


160  THE   MISSIONAET   LABORS 

three  times  I  have  received  intimations  from  the 
queen's  brother,  to  assassinate  all  the  white  prisoners 
privately ;  but  I  would  not  do  it.  And  I  now  repeat 
it,  though  1  execute  all  the  others,  I  will  never  exe- 
cute your  husband.  But  I  cannot  release  him  from 
his  present  confinement,  and  you  must  not  ask  it.' 
I  had  never  seen  him  manifest  so  much  feeling,  or  so 
resolute  in  denying  me  a  favor,  which  circumstance 
was  an  additional  reason  for  thinking  dreadful  scenes 
were  before  us. 

"  Tlie  situation  of  the  prisoners  was  now  distress- 
ing beyond  description.  It  w^as  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  hot  season.  There  w^ere  above  a  hun- 
dred prisoners  shut  up  in  one  room,  without  a  breath 
of  air  excepting  from  the  cracks  in  the  boards.  I 
sometimes  obtained  permission  to  go  to  the  door  for 
five  minutes,  when  my  heart  sickened  at  the  wretch- 
ed exhibition.  The  white  prisoners,  from  incessant 
perspiration  and  loss  of  appetite,  looked  more  like 
the  dead  than  the  living.  I  made  daily  applications 
to  the  governor,  offering  him  money,  which  he 
refused ;  but  all  that  I  gained,  was  permission  for 
the  foreigners  to  eat  their  food  outside,  and  this 
continued  but  a  short  time. 

"  It  was  at  this  period,  that  the  death  of  Bandula 
was  announced  in  the  palace.  The  king  heard  it 
with  silent  amazement,  and  the  queen,  in  eastern 
style,  smote  upon  her  breast,  and  cried,  ama !  ama  ! 
(alas,  alas.) 

"After  continuing  in  the  inner  prison  for  more 
than  a  month,  your  brother  was  taken  with  a  fever ; 


OF  ADONIEAM   JIJDSON.  161 

I  felt  assui'ed  he  would  not  live  long,  unless  removed 
from  that  noisome  place.  To  effect  this,  and  in  order 
to  be  near  the  prison,  I  removed  from  our  house,  and 
put  up  a  small  bamboo  room  in  the  governor's  en- 
closure, which  was  nearly  opj)Osite  the  prison-gate. 
Here  I  incessantly  begged  the  governor  to  give  me 
an  order  to  take  Mr.  J.  out  of  the  large  prison,  and 
place  him  in  a  more  comfortable  situation ;  and  the 
old  man,  being  worn  out  with  my  entreaties,  at 
length  gave  me  the  order  in  an  official  form ;  and 
also  gave  orders  to  the  head  jailer,  to  allow  me  to  go 
in  and  out,  all  times  of  the  day,  to  administer  medi- 
cines, &c.  I  now  felt  happy  indeed,  and  had  Mr.  J. 
instantly  removed  into  a  little  bamboo  hovel,  so  low, 
that  neither  of  us  could  stand  upright — but  a  pal- 
ace, in  comparison  with  the  place  he  had  left. 

"Notwithstanding  the  order  the  governor  had 
given  for  my  admittance  into  prison,  it  was  with  the 
greatest  difficulty  that  I  could  persuade  the  under- 
jailer  to  open  the  gate.  I  used  to  carry  Mr.  J.'s  food 
myself,  for  the  sake  of  getting  in,  and  would  then 
remain  an  hour  or  two,  unless  driven  out.  "We  had 
been  in  this  comfortable  situation  but  two  or  three 
days,  when  one  morning,  having  carried  in  Mr.  Jud- 
son's  breakfast,  which,  in  consequence  of  fever,  he 
was  unable  to  take,  I  remained  longer  than  usual, 
when  the  governor,  in  great  haste,  sent  for  me.  I 
promised  him  to  return  as  soon  as  I  had  ascertained 
the  governor's  will,  he  being  much  alarmed  at  this 
unusual  message.  I  was  very  agreeably  disappoint- 
ed, when  the  governor  informed  me,  that  he  only 

n 


162  MISSIONARY  LABORS. 

wished  to  consult  me  about  his  watch,  and  seemed 
unusually  pleasant  and  conversable.  I  found  after- 
ward, that  his  only  object  was,  to  detain  me  until 
the  dreadful  scene,  about  to  take  place  in  the  prison, 
was  over.  For  when  I  left  him  to  go  to  my  room, 
one  of  the  servants  came  running,  and  with  a  ghastly 
countenance  informed  me,  that  all  the  white  prison- 
ers were  carried  away."  ^ 

*  Letter  to  Elnathan  Judson,  M.  D.  See  Memoir  of  Ann  H.  Jud- 
Bon,  chapters  sixteen  and  seventeen.  "We  are  mainly  guided  by  the 
same  communication,  in  our  account  of  the  missionaries*  imprison-^ 
ment  at  Oung  pen-la. 


CHAPTER   XIII, 


Mr.  Judson  and  the  other  Prisoners  taken  to  Oung-pen-la  — Cause  of  their  Re- 
moval —  Mrs.  Judson  follows  her  Husband— Sufferings  of  the  Judson  Family — 
Progress  of  the  English  Army  up  the  Irrawaddy  —  Messrs.  Judf.-)n  and  Price 
taken  from  Prison  to  assist  in  Negotiations  for  Peace  —  Sickness  of  Mrs. 
Judson  — War  Closes  — Dr.  Price  remains  at  Ava— -His  Death  — Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Judson  go  to  Rangoon. 

In  1825,  after  eleven  months  incarceration  and  suf- 
fering at  Ava,  Mr.  Judson  was  seized  by  a  jailor, 
roughly  dragged  from  the  prison,  stripped  almost 
naked,  unchained,  and,  without  hat  or  shoes,  with  a 
rope  round  his  waist,  was  driven  to  the  court  house, 
where  he  met  the  other  prisoners.  Tied  in  pairs,  and 
committed  to  the  custody  of  an  officer  entitled  the 
lamine  woon,  who  rode  on  horseback  in  front,  while 
a  gang  of  slaves  held  the  ropes  attached  to  the  bodies 
of  the  prisoners,  and  brought  up  the  rear,  the  com- 
pany started  for  Oung-pen-la,  via  Amarapura.  It 
was  nearly  noon,  in  the  month  of  May,  a  sultry  and 
oppressive  season  of  the  year  in  the  climate  of  south- 
ern India,  and  Mr.  Judson  had  not  proceeded  a  mile 
before  his  feet  were  blistered,  and  he  was  in  excru- 
ciating pain.  The  skin  was  soon  worn  from  the  feet 
of  all  the  prisoners,  and  the  hot  sand  was  now  eating 


164:  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

into  the  naked  iiesli.  But  they  were  in  charge  of  an 
inhuman  officer,  whose  orders  to  the  drivers  were,  to 
hurry  the  culprits  along. 

Mr.  Judson  had  a  fever  that  morning,  and  partook 
of  no  refreshment ;  hence,  when  he  had  gone  about 
four  miles,  or  a  little  more  than  half-way  to  Amara- 
pura,  he  became  so  faint  that  he  would  have  fallen 
had  he  not  received  support  by  taking  hold  of  the 
shoulder  of  Captain  Laird,  who  was  his  yoke-fellow 
in  ignominy  and  suffering.  Though  a  much  more 
robust  man  than  Mr.  Judson,  he  was  able  to  ren- 
der assistance  in  this  way  only  a  short  time.  Fortu- 
nately, however,  a  servant  of  Mr.  Gouger,  an  athletic 
Bengalee,  now  overtook  the  company,  and,  observ- 
ing Mr.  Judson's  weakness  and  distress,  tore  his  head 
dress  in  two,  and  gave  him  half  of  it  to  envelope  his 
feet ;  Mr.  Gouger  received  the  other  half  The  ser- 
vant then  gave  Mr.  Judson  his  shoulder,  and  bore 
nearly  half  his  weight  the  last  mile  or  two  of  the 
first  day's  journey. 

Before  reaching  Amarapura,  one  of  the  prisoners, 
a  corpulent  Greek,  who  was  perfectly  healthy  when 
they  started,  fell  down  dead.  This  circumstance  led 
the  lamine  woon,  who  had  intended  to  drive  the 
prisoners  to  Omig-pen-la  that  night,  to  halt  on  the 
way.  They  were  taken  under  an  old  shed,  at  Ama- 
rapura, where,  without  a  pillow  or  a  shred  of  cover- 
ing, they  rested  theii*  weary  and  bleeding  limbs  on 
the  naked  earth.  But  for  the  kindness  of  the  lamine 
woon's  wife,  who  was  not  wholly  destitute  of  the 
traits  of  the  true  woman,  and  whose  curiosity  had 


OF   ADONIEAJkl   JUDSO:^'.  165 

led  her  to  visit  the  prisoners,  they  would  probably 
have  had  nothing  to  eat  that  night.  She  kindly 
ordered  some  tamarinds  and  other  refreshments,  and 
they  lay  down  to  rest,  no  doubt,  with  the  one  con- 
soling reflection,  that  God  had  not  wholly  forsaken 
them,  but  had  sent  a  friend  to  their  succor,  in  a 
time  of  great  need.  Some  rice,  poorly  prepared, 
was  given  them  the  next  morning,  and  as  every  one 
of  them  was  unable  to  walk,  they  were  conveyed  the 
rest  of  the  way,  four  miles,  in  carts. 

The  circumstance  which  led  to  their  removal  to 
Oung-pen-la,  as  they  subsequently  learned,  was  this : 
the  pakah-woon  was  about  to  take  command  of  a  new 
army  of  fifty  thousand  men,  raised  to  carry  on  the 
war  with  the  English,  and  the  prisoners  were  to  be 
offered  as  a  sacrifice  in  his  presence,  to  honor  the 
occasion.  Just  before  the  time  for  executing  this 
diabolical  plan,  he  fell  into  disgrace  at  the  court  of 
Ava,  was  accused  of  high  treason,  and  executed  im- 
mediately, without  trial  or  the  slightest  examination. 
He  had  been  suddenly  raised  from  obscurity  to  the 
rank  of  woongj^ee,  and  being  proud,  ambitious,  and 
sanguinary,  it  is  likely  the  accusation  brought  against 
him  was  well  founded,  and  that  his  doom  was  just. 
His  execution  was  timely  for  the  missionaries  and 
their  fellow^  prisoners,  and  it  was  no  doubt  regarded 
by  the  former  as  a  providential  escape  from  death, 
and  an  especial  occasion  for  gratitude  and  thanks- 
giving to  God. 

The  morning  after  the  prisoners  left  Ava,  Mrs. 
Judson  obtained  a  government  pass,  and  with  her 


166  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

daughter  three  months  old,  the  two  adopted  Burman 
girls  before  mentioned,  and  a  Bengalee  servant,  she 
passed  up  the  Irrawaddy  in  quest  of  her  husband. 
She  had  accidentally  heard,  the  night  previous,  that 
the  prisoners  had  been  taken  before  the  lamine  woon 
at  Amarapura,  and  were  to  be  driven  to  some  place 
farther  off.  Anxious  to  reach  the  government  house 
before  the  prisoners  should  leave  Amarapura,  when 
within  two  miles  of  that  place,  she  left  the  boat  and 
hurried  on  in  a  cart.  Arriving  at  the  court  house, 
she  learned  that  the  prisoners  had  departed  two 
hours  previous,  and,  with  a  disappointed  heart,  she 
was  obliged  to  charter  another  cart,  and  pursue  her 
solitary  way  four  miles  farther  over  burning  sand 
and  beneath  a  scorching  sun. 

Arriving  at  Oung-pen-la,  she  soon  found  her  way 
to  the  prison  yard,  where  she  met  Mr.  Judson,  who 
was  "  almost  dead  with  suffering  and  fatigue,"  but 
so  conscious  of  the  wretchedness  of  the  place,  as  to 
salute  her  with  the  assurance  that  she  could  not  live 
there. 

The  prison  at  Oung-pen-la  was  in  a  dilapidated 
and  miserable  condition;  but  some  slight  repairs 
were  immediately  made,  a  large  shed  was  put  up 
in  front,  and  a  new  fence  built ;  still  the  place  was 
sadly  deficient  in  the  features  of  comfort,  and  soon 
became  the  scene  of  sufferings  and  trials,  at  the 
contemplation  of  which  humanity  weeps. 

The  fever,  which  Mr.  Judson  had  when  he  left 
Ava,  did  not  leave  him  for  some  time;  and  so 
mangled  were  his  feet  that  he  could  not  stand,  and 


OF   ADONERAM   JUDSON.  167 

could  scarcely  move  for  several  days.  Under  these 
circumstances  he  needed  the  utmost  care  and  almost 
incessant  attention,  which  was  more  than  Mrs.  Jud- 
son  was  able  to  bestow.  The  day  after  her  arrival, 
one  of  the  Bm-man  children,  Mary  Hasseltine,  took 
the  small  pox,  and  she  being  the  only  person  just 
then  on  whom  Mrs.  Judson  could  rely  in  taking 
care  of  the  infant  Maria,  the  poor  woman  had  an 
amount  of  labor  to  perform  that  would  seem  suffi- 
cient to  break  down  the  strongest  constitution.  "I 
knew  not  what  to  do,"  she  afterward  wrote,  "  for  I 
could  procure  no  assistance  from  the  neighborhood, 
or  medicine  for  the  sufferers,  but  was  all  day  long 
going  backward  and  forward  from  the  house  to  the 
prison  with  little  Maria  in  my  arms.  Sometimes  I 
was  greatly  relieved  by  leaving  her,  for  an  hour, 
when  asleep,  by  the  side  of  her  father,  while  I  re- 
turned to  the  house  to  look  after  Mary,  whose  fever 
ran  so  high  as  to  produce  delirium.  She  was  so  com- 
pletely covered  with  the  small  pox,  that  there  was  no 
distinction  in  the  pustules.  As  she  was  in  the  same 
little  room  with  myself,  I  knew  Maria  would  take 
it;  I  therefore  inoculated  her  from  another  child, 
before  Mary's  had  arrived  at  such  a  state  as  to  be 
infectious.  At  the  same  time  I  inoculated  Abby, 
and  the  jailer's  children,  who  all  had  it  so  lightly 
as  hardly  to  interrupt  their  play.  But  the  inocu- 
lation in  the  arm  of  my  poor  little  Maria  did  not 
take — she  caught  it  of  Mary,  and  had  it  the  natural 
way.    She  was  then  only  three  months  and  a  half 


168  THE    MISSIONARY    LABORS 

old,  and  Lad  been  a  most  liealthy  child ;  but  it  was 
above  three  months  before  she  perfectly  recovered 
ii'om  the  effects  of  this  dreadful  disorder." 

Though  vaccinated  before  leaving  America,  yet, 
from  long  and  constant  exposure,  and  without  the 
preliminary  symptom  of  fever,  Mrs.  Judson  had 
something  like  a  hundred  pustules.  But  she  sank 
not  beneath,  these  accumulated  burdens ;  as  soon 
as  the  children  had  recovered,  greatly  debilitated, 
and  with  one  of  the  alarming  diseases  of  the  coun- 
try, to  which  foreigners  are  peculiarly  subject,  drag- 
ging her  down,  she  repaired  to  Ava,  alone,  to  obtain 
the  medicine  chest  —  an  article  indispensable  to  mis- 
sionaries in  a  strange  and  particularly  a  tropical 
climate.  She  started  on  her  return  to  Oung-pen-la 
in  so  weak  a  condition  as  to  be  unable  to  stand; 
and,  when  she  reached  lier  miserable  home,  was 
unable  to  get  into  the  ch  airless  hovel  without  the 
help  of  the  attentive  Bengalee  cook,  who  bm-st  into 
tears  when  he  beheld  her  cadaverous  face  and  ema- 
ciated form.  Crawling  upon  the  only  mat  in  her 
little  room,  which  had  been  a  hospital  since  her 
first  arrival  in  the  place,  she  there  lay  between  two 
and  three  months,  unable,  most  of  the  time,  to  do 
aught  for  herself,  much  less  for  her  husband.  The 
latter,  though  now  restored  to  comfortable  health, 
depended  on  tlie  kindness  of  friends  to  properly 
prepare  his  food,  and  for  other  attentions  to  lubri- 
cate the  harsher  asperities  of  prison  life.  A  single 
day's  neglect  subjected  him  to  suffering  not  easily 
to  be  borne. 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  169 

But  "man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity;"  and 
He  who  dii-ected  the  birds  of  heaven  to  the  prophet's 
retreat,  did  not  leave  tiie  Burman  apostle  to  perish, 
though  he  was  in  a  land  of  human  vultm*es.  It  is 
said  that  a  common  Bengalee  cook  will  do  nothing 
but  the  simple  drudgery  of  his  profession,  but  the 
one  whom  Providence  flung  into  the  bosom  of  the 
Judson  family,  forgetting  self,  surrendering  com- 
forts, and  laying  aside  caste,  gave  his  heart  and 
unrestricted  services  to  the  afflicted  and  helpless 
missionaries,  without  the  prospect  that  he  would 
ever  receive  due  recompense  for  his  indispensable 
labors.  Beneath  an  unpromising  exterior  beat  a 
true  heart;  and  the  case  of  this  Bengalee  servant 
seems  to  beautifully  verify  the  words  of  Gay : 

Friendship  is  like  the  sun's  eternal  rays ; 

Not  daily  benefits  exhaust  the  flame, 

It  still  is  giving,  and  still  bums  the  same. 

Through  the  smiles  of  a  gracious  Providence, 
when,  at  length,  the  fortune  of  the  missionaries  was 
reversed,  they  were  enabled  to  suitably  reward  this 
kind-hearted  servant  for  his  invaluable  services. 

While  Mrs.  Judson  was  lying  on  a  bamboo  floor, 
during  the  nine  or  ten  longest  weeks  of  her  life, 
her  forlorn  infant,  it  is  probable,  endured  more  suf- 
fering than  any  of  the  family.  Unable  herself  to 
supply  it  with  its  proper  nourishment,  Mrs.  Jud- 
son made  the  utmost  efforts  to  obtain  a  nurse,  but 
failed:  and,  what  was  still  more  perplexing,  she 
could  not,  for  some  time,  procure  any  milk  in  the 


170  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

village.  But  what  will  not  a  mother  do,  in  great 
emergencies  ?  what  can  exhaust  her  schemes,  when 
the  life  of  a  child  is  at  stake  ?  Mrs.  Judson  did  not 
give  up.  Though  her  "flesh"  had  failed,  her 
"  heart "  had  lost  none  of  its  strength.  She  could 
say,  with  the  Psalmist,  "  God  is  the  strength  of  my 
heart,  and  my  portion  forever."  Looking  to  Him  for 
support  and  counsel,  as  she  lay,  night  after  night, 
listening  to  the  dismal,  dirge-like  cries  of  her  fam- 
ishing babe,  without  the  ability  to  afford  it  relief, 
she  at  length  resorted  to  the  potency  of  presents, 
which,  coupled  with  the  power  of  eloquent  looks, 
and  the  persuasive  pleadings  of  faitit  words,  so 
wrought  upon  the  obdurate  hearts  of  the  jailers,  that, 
at  her  request,  Mr.  Judson  was  permitted  to  leave 
the  prison  for  a  short  time,  from  day  to  day,  and 
carry  the  little  starveling  around  the  village  to  such 
mothers  as  had  infant  children,  and  were  merciful 
enough  to  give  it  nourishment. 

Fiction  must  exhaust  its  resources  in  drawing  a 
picture  of  trials  and  sufferings  more  painful  than  the 
life  of  the  Judson  family  at  Oung-pen-la.  However 
deficient  in  fullness  the  limnings  in  the  preceding 
pages  of  this  chapter  may  be,  the  picture  is,  we 
believe,  correct  in  outline;  and  let  the  thought- 
less worldling,  who  calls  the  missionary's  a  life  of 
ease,  and  whose  blurred  imagination  gives  it  the 
coloring  of  delightful  romance,  not  turn  too  hastily 
from  its  contemplation.  Scrutinize  it  in  every  part, 
and  then  point  out  the  sunbeams  that  twinkle  on  the 
canvas :  or,  if  you  fail  to  do  this,  turn  away  in  mute 


OF  ADONERAM  JUDSON.  171 

admiration  of  the  christian  fortitude,  meek  submis- 
sion, and  heroic  endurance  of  these  tried  disciples  of 
Christ,  and  speak  no  more  in  depreciating  terms 
of  the  motives  and  toils  of  the  heaven-appointed 
heralds  of  Christianity. 

"While  Mr.  Judson  was  lying  more  than  half  a 
year  in  the  wretched  cells  of  Oung-pen-la,  the  Eng- 
lish army  was  gradually,  but  very  slowly,  ascending 
the  Irrawaddy,*  defeating  the  proud  and  boastful,  yet 
cowardly  legions  of  the  king,  at  several  towns  along 
the  route,  and  as  often  offering  overtures  of  peace, 
which  were  as  often  disdainfully  rejected.  But  at 
length,  in  the  early  part  of  1826,  the  near  approach 
of  the  foreign  forces  to  the  golden  city,  caused  the 
golden  legs  to  tremble,  and  induced  his  imperial  and 
heretofore  imperious  majesty  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  proposals  for  peace,  which  were  becoming 
more  and  more  grasping  in  their  demands.  In  order 
to  carry  on  the  negotiations,  he  sent  for  Mr.  Judson, 
to  act  as  interpreter.  The  latter  had  no  objections 
to  leaving  Oung-pen-la,  though  he  shared  but  little 
better  at  Maloun,  where  the  Burman  camp  was,  and 
whither  he  was  immediately  sent,  to  translate  for  the 

*  After  the  capture  of  Rangoon,  the  English  armv  was  delayed 
nearly  a  year  at  that  place,  owing  to  the  sickness  of  the  soldiers,  the 
scarcity  of  provisions,  and  other  causes.  In  June,  1825,  the  army 
retired  into  barracks  at  Prorae,  and  there  remained  during  the  hot 
and  rainy  season,  which  usually  lasts  from  May  to  November.  Hence 
the  long  period  that  elapsed  between  the  fall  of  Rangoon  and  the 
Btorming  of  Maloun,  which  latter  event  occurred  on  the  19th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1826,  and  was  the  circumstance  which  led  the  king  to  weigh 
the  question  of  a  treaty. 


172  THE   MISSIONARY  LABOES 

king.  He  there  passed  seven  or  eight  weeks,  a  pris- 
oner at  large,  and  was  then  sent  to  Ava. 

While  he  was  at  the  former  place,  his  wife,  who 
had  followed  him  from  Oung-pen-la  to  Ava,  was  pros- 
trated by  the  spotted  fever,  deprived  of  her  reason, 
and  brought  to  the  verge  of  the  grave.  Dr.  Price, 
who  also  rendered  assistance  in  the  negotiations,  at- 
tended her,  and  had,  for  days,  no  hopes  of  her  recov- 
ery. On  one  occasion,  she  was  so  low  that  the  natives 
came  in  to  see  her  die  ;  and  on  beholding  her,  they 
exclaimed,  "  She  is  dead !  and  if  the  King  of  angels 
should  come  in,  he  could  not  recover  her."  But  the 
poor  idolaters  knew  nothing  of  the  power  of  the 
"  King  of  angels,"  for  he  did  restore  her.  Meantime, 
He  also  provided  for  the  helpless  and  hapless  little 
Maria,  a  Burman  nurse  offering  to  become  its  tem- 
porary foster-mother,  the  very  day  that  Mrs.  Judson 
was  taken  with  the  fever. 

The  treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  at  Yandabo, 
forty  miles  below  Ava,  on  the  24th  of  February, 
1826.  By  its  terms,  the  emperor  agreed  to  j)ay  the 
English  5,000,000  rupees,  or  nearly  $2,500,000,  and 
ceded  Arracan,  Tavoy,  Maulmain,  and  Mergui,  and 
also  a  part  of  Martaban. 

In  compliance  with  the  treaty,  all  the  prisoners  at 
Oung-pen-la  were  set  free,  some  to  be  sent  to  their 
homes,  others  to  the  English  camp.  Messrs.  Judson 
and  Price  were  strongly  urged  to  remain  at  the 
capital,  and  the  latter,  after  some  consideration, 
complied  with  the  wishes  of  the  king.  He  there 
continued  the  practice  of  medicine ;  established  and 


OP  ADONIRAM  JTJDSON.  173 

faithfully  attended  to  the  duties  of  a  school  for  the 
children  of  noblemen ;  lectured  occasionally  on  as- 
ti'onomy,  and  such  other  sciences  as  show  the  fal- 
lacy of  the  system  of  Buddhism,  and  preached  to 
his  retainers,  and  such  as  felt  disposed  to  visit  his 
house  on  Sunday.  Early  in  the  winter  of  1828,  he 
obtained  permission  to  take  several  of  his  pupils  to 
Serampore,  to  finish  their  studies ;  but  he  was  then 
sinking  under  pulmonary  consumption.  On  the 
morning  he  was  to  sail,  February  14th,  he  arose, 
dressed  himself,  and  soon  afterward  sat  down  in  his 
chair,  and  died.  His  attendants,  who  had  been  ab- 
sent from  his  room  a  few  moments,  returning,  found 
him  lifeless,  in  a  sitting  posture.  The  school  was 
broken  up,  and  the  station  unoccupied  for  years. 

Mr.  Judson  repaired,  with  his  family,  by  invita- 
tion, to  the  headquarters  of  Sir  Archibald  Campbell, 
who  was  then  at  Yandabo.  They  were  received  by 
the  general  with  extreme  cordiality,  and  shared  his 
hospitalities  about  two  weeks.  He  then  gave  them 
a  passage  to  Eangoon,  for  which  place  they  em- 
barked on  the  8th  of  March,  and  where  they  arrived 
the  latter  part  of  the  same  month. 

Mr.  Judson  had  been  absent  two  years  and  a  quar- 
ter, and,  considering  the  turbulent  state  of  affairs  in 
the  country  during  this  time,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
he  found  great  changes  had  taken  place.  The  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  a  letter  written  on  the  25th  of 
March,  just  after  reaching  Rangoon,  contain,  among 
other  things,  some  interesting  facts  in  regard  to  the 
Burman  converts,  and  conclude  with  the  expression 


174  THE  MI8SI0NAET   LABOES 

of  sentiments  which  highly  exalt  his  character.     It 
was  addressed  to  Dr.  Bolles :  * 

"  Through  the  kind  interposition  of  onr  heavenly 
Father,  our  lives  have  been  preserved,  in  the  most 
imminent  danger,  from  the  hand  of  the  executioner, 
and  in  repeated  instances  of  most  alarming  illness, 
during  my  protracted  imprisonment  of  one  year  and 
seven  months  —  nine  months  in  three  pair  of  fetters, 
two  months  in  five,  six  months  in  one,  and  two  months 
a  prisoner  at  large.  Subsequent  to  the  latter  period, 
I  spent  about  six  weeks  in  the  house  of  the  north 
governor  of  the  palace,  who  petitioned  for  my  re- 
lease, and  took  me  under  his  charge ;  and  finally, 
on  the  joyful  21st  of  February  last,  took  leave,  with 
Mrs.  Judson  and  family,  of  the  scene  of  our  sufier- 
ings  —  sufierings  which,  it  would  seem,  have  been 
unavailing  to  answer  any  valuable  missionary  pur- 
pose, unless  so  far  as  they  may  have  been  silently 
blessed  to  our  spiritual  improvement  and  capacity 
for  future  usefulness.  Let  me  beg  your  prayers  that 
it  may  not  be  in  vain,  that  we  have  been  afflicted. 

"  The  disciples  and  inquirers  have  been  dispersed 

*  At  the  triennial  meeting  of  the  Convention,  in  1826,  Dr.  Bolles 
was  appointed  Corresponding  Secretary,  in  place  of  Dr.  Staughton, 
who  had  served  in  that  capacity  since  the  formation  of  the  Society, 
and  who  now  resigned  the  office.  Two  years  previous,  for  the  sake 
of  convenience,  the  seat  of  management  of  the  mission  had  been  re- 
moved from  Washington  to  Boston  ;  and  prior  to  that  date,  it  had 
been  removed  from  Philadelphia  to  the  capital,  to  accommodate  Dr. 
Staughton,  who  was  appointed  President  of  Columbian  College  on 
its  establishment 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUDSON.  175 

in  all  directions.  Several  are  dead ;  several  I  found 
on  my  passage  down  the  river,  and  gave  them  notice 
of  my  plans,  in  case  they  might  wish  to  follow ;  and 
several  are  in  this  place  waiting  for  some  movement. 
Moung  Shwa-ba  has  been  in  the  mission-house  during 
the  whole,  and  Moung  Ing  with  Mrs.  Judson  at  Ava. 
Moung  Shwa-Gnong  I  have  been  unable  to  find,  but 
understood  he  was  alive  somewhere  in  the  interior. 
We  had  a  pleasant  meeting  with  Mah  Men-la  and 
her  sister,  Mah  Doke,  who  were  living  in  boats  at 
Prome,  and  instantly  resolved  to  accompany  us.  I 
long  for  the  time  when  we  shall  be  able  to  reerect 
the  standard  of  the  gospel,  and  enjoy  once  more  the 
stated  worship  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  house. 
I  feel  a  strong  desire  henceforth  to  know  nothing 
among  this  people,  but  Jesus  Christ  and  him  cruci- 
fied ;  and  under  an  abiding  sense  of  the  comparative 
worthlessness  of  all  worldly  things,  to  avoid  every 
secular  occupation,  and  all  literary  and  scientific 
pursuits,  and  devote  the  remainder  of  my  days  to  the 
simple  declaration  of  the  all-precious  truth  of  the 
gospel  of  our  great  God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 


CHAPTEK  XIY. 


Retrospect  of  the  Mission  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  remove  to  Amherst — Mr. 
Judson  goes  to  Ava,  in  connection  with  the  English  Embassy  —  Defeat  of  hia 
Object  in  joining  the  Embassy  —  Returns  to  Amherst —  Death  of  Mrs.  Judson — 
Return  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade,  accompanied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boardman — 
Death  of  Mr.  Judson's  Daughter. 

■With  the  close  of  the  Burman  war,  the  Burman 
mission  ended  the  first  portion  of  its  history.  Tlie 
mission  had  to  he  reestablished,  and,  excepting  the 
acquisition  of  the  language,  as  Mrs.  Judson  remarked 
at  the  time,  the  whole  work  had  to  be  begun 
anew.  During  the  twelve  years  embraced  in  this 
period,  inexperience  on  the  part  of  the  missionaries, 
and  profitless  projects  and  undertakings  as  a  conse- 
quence; meagerness  of  means,  resulting  from  the 
ignorance  of  American  christians  in  regard  to  their 
duty  to  the  heathen;  intolerance,  war,  and  many 
other  adverse  influences,  had  retarded,  and,  at  times, 
wholly  delayed  the  work. 

But,  notwithstanding  all  this,  the  founding  of  the 
mission  had  been  attended  with  much  good.  'Not  to 
mention  other  happy  results,  it  had  developed  and 
strengthened  the  christian  virtues  of  the  great  man 


ADONIRAl^I   JIJDSON.  177 

whom  God  had  honored  in  making  him  its  founder, 
and  had  thoroughly  schooled  him  for  the  herculean 
labors  and  the  stupendous  trials  that  were  yet  in  re- 
serve for  him ;  and  it  had  been  the  means,  as  the 
first  fruits  of  patient  toil  and  unfaltering  faith,  of 
gathering  eighteen  precious  souls  into  the  garner  of 
the  christian  church. 

Prior  to  1826,  twelve  missionaries  had  entered  on 
the  work  in  Burmah.  Three  of  these,  Messrs.  Whee- 
lock  and  Colman,  and  Mrs.  Price,  had  died,  and  two, 
the  widoWod  wives  of  the  men  just  mentioned,  had 
been  removed  by  bereavement.  Of  the  seven  others, 
four  were  still  in  exile  at  Calcutta,  leaving  but  three 
on  the  ground  to  commence  the  labors  embraced  in 
the  second  portion  of  the  history  of  this  mission. 
This  period  will  extend  over  the  next  twenty-four 
years,  and  bring  us  down  to  the  close  of  Mr.  Judson's 
life. 

On  leaving  Ava,  it  was  Mr.  Jud son's  intention  to 
proceed  to  the  peninsula  south-east  of  Pangoon,  and 
establish  a  mission,  either  at  Tavoy  or  Mergui,  these 
parts  being  now  accessible  to  the  peace-publisher. 
But  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Rangoon,  he  altered 
his  plans,  and  accepted  an  invitation  from  Mr.  Craw- 
fiird,  the  commissioner  of  Lord  Amherst,  who  was 
then  governor-general  of  India,  to  accompany  him 
on  a  tour  through  some  of  the  newly  ceded  dis- 
tricts. It  was  to  be  made  with  reference  to  select- 
ing a  site  for  a  new  town,  designed  thenceforward 
to  be  the  capital  of  the  British  territory  in  those 
parts.  ^2 


178  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

Mr.  Judson  left  Rangoon  in  company  with  Mr. 
Crawfui'd,  on  the  first  of  April,  1826.  They  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Salwen  or  Martaban,  and,  at  length, 
a  short  distance  from  its  mouth,  fixed  upon  a  spot 
for  the  contemplated  town,  which  they  appropriately 
named  Amherst.  It  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  on  the  dividing  line  of  Burmah  Proper  and 
British  Burmah. 

The  setting  apart  of  this  spot  for  the  purpose 
before  specified,  was  formal,  and  ceremonies  of  a 
very  solemn  and  interesting  character  were  perform- 
ed on  the  occasion.  After  the  firing  of  guns,  and 
other  appropriate  acts,  with  the  British  flag  wav- 
ing over  his  head,  Mr.  Judson  read  the  sixtieth  chap- 
ter of  Isaiah  and  ofi'ered  a  prayer,  dedicating  the 
place  to  the  rule  of  civilized  authority  and  christian 
toleration.  It  was  then  a  wild  spot  in  the  jungle, 
and  the  language  of  inspiration  and  the  voice  of 
prayer  must  have  broken  strangely  upon  the  soli- 
tude of  the  wilderness.  Nature  herself,  it  would 
seem,  must  have  held  her  breath  in  awful  suspense 
as  she  caught  the  mysterious  words,  "  Yiolence  shall 
no  more  be  heard  in  thy  land,  wasting  nor  destruc- 
tion within  thy  borders,"  *  *  *  "  A  little  one 
shall  become  a  thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong 
nation."  And  how  eloquent  must  have  been  the  sup- 
plication of  the  good  man,  whose  soul  was  inspired 
by  the  promises  of  God  ;  whose  eye  must  have  seen 
the  whole  Gentile  world  coming  to  Christ,  and  whose 
heart  must  have  rejoiced,  while  the  dromedaries  of 
Midian  and  Ephah,  the  gold  of  Sheba,  the  flocks  of 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUDSON.  179 

Kedar,  the  ships  of  Tarshish,  in  short,  tl  ^  <^ealth 
of  the  whole  earth,  was  being  poured  into  the  trea- 
sury of  the  Lord,  and  the  glory  of  the  church  was 
being  consummated. 

Kejoicing  that  a  place  had  been  found  where  he 
could  be  protected  in  preaching  the  gospel,  Mr.  Jud- 
son  was  impatient  to  locate  his  family  at  Amherst, 
and  resume  the  work  so  congenial  to  his  feelings. 
He  accordingly  returned  to  Rangoon  on  the  9th  of 
April,  and  prepared  for  the  removal,  which  was 
effected  in  June. 

Several  of  the  native  converts,  among  whom  were 
Moung  Ing  and  Moung  Shwa-ba,  also  sought  an 
asylum  at  Amherst.  Some  of  them,  advised  of 
Mr.  Judson's  plans,  preceded  him  in  the  removal 
thither.  Mentioning  this  fact  to  a  friend  in  Eng- 
land, to  whom  he  wrote  on  the  12th  of  July,  he 
added,  that  they  "built  the  first  native  houses  that 
encroached  on  the  jungle,  and  disturbed  the  deer 
and  wild  fowl  which  had  been  the  undisputed  oc- 
cupants of  the  peninsula." 

Just  after  the  settlement  of  the  missionaries  at 
Amherst,  Mrs.  Judson  received  three  hundred  ru- 
pees from  a  friend  in  England,  with  which  present 
she  was  enabled  to  erect  a  temporary  mission-house, 
in  which  she  opened  a  small  school. 

Mr.  Judson  had  not  fairly  entered  on  his  labors, 
before  he  received  a  pressing  invitation  to  accompany 
Mr.  Crawfiird  on  an  embassy  to  the  Burman  court, 
having  for  its  object  the  negotiating  of  a  commercial 
treaty.     He  was  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  translator ; 


180  THE   MISSIONARY    LABOES 

but  SO  comfortable  was  his  situation  at  Amherst,  and 
so  favorable  the  prospect  for  his  immediate  use- 
fulness there,  that  he  had,  at  first,  no  desire  to  leave. 
He  therefore  declined ;  but  Mr.  Crawfurd  renewed 
his  proposal,  and,  as  an  inducement  for  Mr.  Judson 
to  accept  it,  agreed,  if  the  thing  were  possible,  to 
have  an  article  embodied  in  the  treaty,  securing  reli- 
gious toleration.  Mr.  Judson  could  desire  no  con- 
summation more  earnestly  than  this ;  for  the  field 
now  accessible  to  christian  eflfort  in  those  parts  was 
small,  and  looking  to  the  exigences  of  the  future,  he 
wished  to  have  removed,  at  once  and  forever,  all 
obstacles  that  would  interfere  with  tlie  prosecution 
of  missionary  labor  in  any  part  of  the  empire.  From 
this  consideration,  after  deliberation  and  prayer,  he 
accepted  the  ofter;  and  leaving  his  wife  quietly 
and  comfortably  situated  in  the  house  of  the  civil 
superintendent  of  the  town,  Captain  Fen  wick  —  who 
was  so  kind  and  obliging  as  to  vacate  it  for  their  ac- 
commodation —  he  returned  to  Rangoon  in  the  early 
part  of  July,  to  await  final  orders  from  Bengal. 
The  embassy  did  not  leave  until  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber. On  the  28th  of  that  month,  Mr.  Judson  once 
more  gazed  on  the  golden  city,  the  scene  of  his  incal- 
culable sufierings,  and  the  awakener  of  many  pain- 
ful recollections.  But  he  doubtless  regarded  it  as 
one  of  the  fiery  furnaces  in  which  he  had  been  tried ; 
nor  would  he  have  shrank  from  reentering  its  death- 
prison,  if,  by  that  means,  and  that  only,  he  could 
^efiect  the  object  of  his  present  mission.  But  in  this 
he  was  sadly,  sorrowfully  disappointed.    In  a  letter 


OF   ADONIRAM  JIJDSON.  181 

addressed  to  the  corresponding  secretary,  and  dated, 
Ava,  December  Ttli,  1826,  lie  says  : 

"In  the  very  commencement  of  negotiations,  I 
ascertained  that  it  wonld  be  impossible  to  effect  any 
thing  in  favor  of  religions  toleration,  in  consequence 
of  the  extraordinary  ground  assumed  by  the  Burmese 
commissioners.  Eeluctant,  as  the  government  has 
ever  been,  to  enter  iiito  any  stipulations  with  a  foreign 
power,  they  resolved  to  do  nothing  more  than  they 
were  obliged  to  by  the  treaty  of  Yandabo.  And  as 
that  required  them  to  make  a  '  commercial  treaty,' 
they  .resolved  to  conline  the  discussions  to  points 
strictly  commercial ;  so  that,  instead  of  a  treaty  of 
twenty-two  articles,  calculated  to  place  the  relations 
of  the  two  countries  on  the  most  liberal  and  friendly 
footing,  the  treaty  just  concluded  is  confined  to  four ; 
and  those  utterly  insignificant.  So  far,  therefore,  as 
I  had  a  view  to  the  attainment  of  religious  toleration, 
in  accompanying  the  embassy,  I  have  entirely  failed." 

"When  he  started  for  Ava,  he  expected  to  return  in 
four  or  five  months ;  but  the  delay  of  the  embassy 
at  Rangoon,  also  at  the  capital,  in  obtaining  an  audi- 
ence with  the  king,  and  in  bringing  the  negotiations  to 
a  close,  prolonged  his  absence  from  his  newly-adopted 
home  two  or  three  months  longer  than  he  had  antici- 
pated. When,  at  length,  he  returned  to  Amherst, 
which  was  on  the  24th  of  January,  1827,  it  was  to 
behold  his  home  made  desolate,  and  to  seek  the 
grave  of  his  fallen  companion ! 


182  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

Early  in  the  month  of  October,  Mrs.  Judson  was 
seized  with  a  violent  remittent  fever ;  her  constitu- 
tion, rendered  feeble  by  previous  disease  and  long 
and  extreme  hardship,  rapidly  gave  way,  and  after 
eighteen  days  illness  she  went  to  her  heavenly  rest. 
The  tidings  of  her  departure  reached  Mr.  Judson 
just  before  he  left  Ava,  and,  notwithstanding  his  dis- 
cipline in  the  school  of  affliction,  he  was  almost  over- 
whelmed with  grief.  Some  months  after  his  return, 
and  subsequent  to  another  bereavement,  he  says,  in 
reference  to  Mrs.  Judson,  "  The  only  pleasant  reflec- 
tion —  the  only  one  that  assuages  the  anguish  of  retro- 
spection—  is,  that  she  now  rests  far  away,  where  no 
spotted-faced  executioner  can  fill  her  heart  with  ter- 
ror; where  no  unfeeling  magistrate  can  extort  the 
scanty  pittance  which  she  had  preserved  through 
every  risk,  to  sustain  her  fettered  husband  and  fam- 
ishing babe;  no  more  exposed  to  lie  on  a  bed  of 
languishment,  and  stung  with  the  uncertainty,  what 
would  become  of  her  poor  husband  and  child  when 
she  was  gone.  No,  she  has  her  little  ones  around 
her,  I  trust,  and  has  taught  them  to  praise  the  source 
whence  their  deliverance  flowed.  Yes,  her  little  son, 
his  soul  enlarged  to  angel's  size,  was  perhaps  the  first 
to  meet  her  at  heaven's  portals,  and  welcome  his 
mother  to  his  own  abode." 

And  then,  how  like  a  christian  philosopher  he 
writes  elsewhere : 

"  Much  she  saw  and  sufiTered  of  the  evil  of  this 
evil  world ;  and  eminently  was  she  qualified  to  relish 


OF  ADONIEAM  JUDSON.  183 

and  enjoy  the  pure  and  holy  rest  into  wliich  she  has 
entered.  True,  she  has  been  taken  from  a  sphere  in 
which  she  was  singularly  qualified,  by  her  natural 
disposition,  her  winning  manners,  her  devoted  zeal, 
and  her  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  language,  to 
be  extensively  serviceable  to  the  cause  of  Christ; 
true,  she  has  been  torn  from  her  husband's  bleeding 
heart,  and  from  her  darling  babe ;  but  infinite  wis- 
dom and  love  have  presided,  as  ever,  in  this  most 
afflicting  dispensation.  Faith  decides  that  it  is  all 
right,  and  the  decision  of  faith  eternity  will  soon 
confirm." 

Mrs.  Judson  was  bm-ied  but  a  few  rods  from  the 
house  in  which  she  died,  and  two  small  marble 
stones,  standing  on  a  rise  of  ground  that  looks  out 
upon  the  ocean,  indicate  the  resting  place  of  one  to 
whose  memory  no  monument  of  marble,  however 
costly,  nor  aught  that  is  subject  to  "decay's  effac- 
ing fingers,"  can  do  justice.  To  perseverance  that 
matches  the  untiring  exertions  of  the  worthiest  ma- 
trons of  our  Eevolution ;  to  conjugal  affection  equal 
to  that  of  Lady  Fanshaw,  or  the  Duchess  of  Bavaria ; 
to  self-devotion  like  that  of  the  French  domestic.  La 
Blonde,  whose  humble  but  heroic  exertions  to  serve 
the  family  of  her  deceased  master  most  beautifullj 
exemplified  the  truth  of  the  maxim, 

"  The  height  of  virtue  is  to  serve  mankind  ; "  V 

to  the  enthusiasm  of  Madam  Roland,  exhibited  in  a 
superior  cause,  and  in  a  more  appropriate  manner, 
together  with  her  fortitude   displayed  in  a  more 


184  THE  MISSIONAET   LABORS 

Christ-like  spirit ;  to  courage  that  obscures  that  of 
queen  Carcas,  because  equally  as  fearless,  and  shown 
in  a  way  more  in  keeping  with  the  nature  of  woman's 
duties ;  to  talents  and  wisdom  superior  to  those  of 
Artemisia,  the  queen  of  Caria,  without  her  martial 
spirit,  and  with  a  more  exalted  ambition; — to  all 
these  were  added,  in  her  character,  strength  of  benev- 
olent feeling,  firmness  of  faith,  and  love  and  fidelity 
to  Christ,  unsurpassed  in  the  records  of  pious  exam- 
ple and  moral  heroism.  All  the  greatness  of  unsel- 
fishness, all  the  charms  of  unswerving  rectitude,  all 
the  beauty,  strength,  and  loyalty  of  social  love,  all 
the  sublimity  of  sanctified  and  soaring  thought,  here 
seem  comj^ressed  and  crowded  into  one  woman's 
spirit ;  and  that  spirit,  temporarily  linked  to  earth, 
yet  uniformly  heavenward  in  its  aspirations  and  ten- 
dencies, surrounded  her  path  with  a  halo  of  glory 
from  the  moment  she  stepped  upon  the  deck  of  the 
Caravan,  to  encounter  the  perils  of  the  deep  and  the 
greater  ones  of  an  unknown,  heathen  land,  an  intol- 
erant people,  and  a  pernicious  climate,  until,  amid 
the  cries  of  the  native  converts,  the  universal  grief  of 
the  little  group  of  English  friends,  and  the  wail  of 
Christianity  itself,  her  eyes  were  closed  in  peaceful 
sleep,  and,  with  three  oceans,  which  she  had  thrice 
traversed  on  her  mission  of  mercy,  separating  her 
from  her  native  land,  she  was  laid  to  rest 

"  'Neath  the  cool  branches  of  the  Hopia  tree.** 

A  few  days  after  the  burial  of  Mrs.  Judson,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  "Wade  returned  from  Calcutta,  accompa- 
nied by  George  D.  Boardman  and  wife,  who  had 


OF  ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  185 

sailed  from  Philadelphia,  under  appointment  of  the 
Board  of  Managers,  nearly  two  years  before,  but, 
owing  to  the  tm'bnlence  in  the  Burman  empire, 
had  proceeded  no  farther  than  Calcutta.  There  they 
had  been  about  a  year  and  a  half,  studying  with 
assiduity,  and  otherwise  fitting  themselves  to  aid 
the  lone  and  sorrowing  widower,  whom  they  had 
now  joined  in  the  noble  enterprise  for  evangelizing 
the  heathen. 

Other  changes,  beside  the  death  of  his  wife  and 
the  arrival  of  the  missionaries,  had  taken  place,  at 
Amherst,  while  Mr.  Judson  was  at  Ava.  On  his 
return,  only  four  of  the  baptized  converts  were  re- 
maining ;  the  rest  had  gone  into  different  parts 
of  the  country.  The  four  still  tarrying  there  were 
Moung  Ing,  Moung  Shwa-ba,  Mah  Men-la,  and  Mah 
Doke.  These,  he  said,  welcomed  him  with  the  voice 
of  lamentation,  for  his  presence  "reminded  them  of 
the  great  loss  they  had  sustained  in  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Judson." 

A  still  greater  change  had  been  wi'ought  by  Sir 
Archibald  Campbell's  removal  of  his  trooj)s  to  Maul- 
main,  twenty-five  miles  up  the  Salwen  from  Am- 
herst. Most  of  the  Burman  emigrants  had  accom- 
panied or  followed  him,  and  settled  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  new  headquarters.  These  changes  made  Am- 
herst exhibit  signs  of  decay.  ^Nevertheless,  as  the 
river  was  navigable  for  vessels  of  a  large  size,  Mr. 
Judson  had,  at  that  time,  no  faith  in  the  importance 
or  growth  of  Maulmain.  This  will  be  seen  by  a  sin- 
gle extract  from  his  journal : 


186  THE  MISSIONARY   LABORS 

"  February  10.  —  A  few  days  ago  went  up  to 
Maulmain  to  pay  my  respects  to  Sir  Arcliibald 
Campbell,  and  also  to  obtain  an  interview  with  Dr. 
R.  who  attended  Mrs.  Jndson  in  her  last  illness. 
Sir  Archibald  encourages  our  removing  to  his  fa- 
vorite station ;  but,  as  we  are  already  settled  here, 
we  feel  disposed  to  wait  a  little,  until  we  see  what 
the  supreme  government  intend  to  do  for  the  place." 

On  the  2oth  of  the  same  month,  just  four  weeks 
after  Mr.  Judson  had  recommenced  his  labors  at 
Amherst  in  the  acquired  language,  he  had  the  hap- 
piness of  assisting  to  set  apart  Moung  Ing  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry  —  though  he  was  not  empow- 
ered to  administer  the  gospel  ordinances.  This  was 
the  first  native  assistant  preacher  ordained  by  Amer- 
ican Baptists.  They  have  now  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  at  the  Asiatic  stations,  and  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  in  all. 

Moung  Ing  immediately  repaired  to  Mergui,  where 
he  remained  several  months,  and  by  his  efficient  la- 
bors cheered  the  hearts  of  those  who  had  seen  fit  to 
ordain  him. 

Since  she  had  become  motherless,  Maria  Elizabeth 
Butterworth  Judson  had  been  in  the  charge  of  Mrs. 
Wade,  whose  kindest  care,  coupled  with  the  best 
medical  attention  and  the  prayers  of  her  father  and 
christian  friends,  could  not  save  her  from  gradually 
sinking  under  a  complaint  which  had  afflicted  her 
for  months.  And  on  the  24th  of  April,  182Y,  Mr. 
Judson  closed  the  eyes  of  his  "  sweet  little  Maria," 


OF   ADONIEAM   jnOSON.  187 

the  last  member  of  his  family,  and  prepared  to  lay 
her  to  rest  beside  her  mother.  Together,  he  wrote 
to  his  mother-in-law  ten  days  afterward,  "  togetlier, 
I  trust  their  spirits  are  now  rejoicing,  after  a  short 
separation  of  precisely  six  months.  Thus  I  am  left 
alone  in  the  wide  world.  ^  ^  '-  What  remains 
for  me,  but  to  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  follow 
the  dear  departed  to  that  blessed  world, 

'  Where  my  best  friends,  my  kindred  dwell, 
"Where  God,  my  Saviour  reigns  ?  '  " 

"Writing  in  regard  to  this  bereavement,  to  the  sis- 
ters of  Mrs.  Judson,  a  few  months  later,  he  says : 
"  The  last  enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed,  is  death. 
Yes,  awful  power,  thou  shalt  devour  thyself  and  die. 
And  then  my  angelic  Ann,  and  my  meek,  blue-eyed 
Roger,  and  my  tender-hearted,  affectionate,  darling 
Maria, — my  venerable  father,  you,  my  dear  sisters, 
that  still  remain,  our  still  surviving  parents,  and,  I 
hope,  myself,  though  all  unworthy,  shall  be  rescued 
from  the  power  of  death  and  the  grave ;  and  when 
the  crown  of  life  is  set  on  our  heads,  and  we  know 
assuredly,  that  we  shall  die  no  more,  we  shall  make 
heaven's  arches  ring  with  songs  of  praise  to  Him, 
who  hath  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in 
his  own  blood." 


CHAPTEE  XY. 


Establishment  of  the  Maulmain  Mission,  by  Mr.  Boardman  —  Messrs.  Judson  and 
Wade  remove  thiiher  — Mr.  Boardman  removes  to  Tavoy— His  Death  —  Mr. 
Judson  renounces  the  title  of  D.  D.— Arrival  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett — Mes.srs. 
Jndson  and  Wade  visit  Rangoon  — Mr.  Judson  proceeds  to  Prome  —  His  return 
to  Rangoon. 

The  rapid  growth  and  increasing  importance  of 
Maulmain  soon  seemed  to  render  it  necessary  that 
one  of  the  missionaries  should  be  stationed  there ; 
and  it  was  decided  among  themselves  that  Mr. 
Boardman  should  go,  which  he  accordingly  did,  in 
the  month  of  May.  Meantime,  Mr.  Wade  was 
to  remain  at  Amherst,  and  Mr.  Judson  to  la- 
bor alternately  at  the  two  stations,  a^^portioning 
his  time  between  them  as  their  exigences  might 
require. 

Before  the  middle  of  summer,  Mrs.  Wade  col- 
lected twenty  girls  into  a  school,  which  she  had 
opened  in  the  spring;  and  the  mission  at  Amherst 
was  otherwise  prospering.  But  in  October,  the  pop- 
ulation became  so  reduced,  that  it  was  deemed  ad- 
visable to  prepare  for  removing  the  school  to  Maul- 
main, and  to  abandon,  for  the  present,  the  station  at 


ADONIRAM  JUDSON.  189 

Amlierst.  After  a  month's  busy  preparation,  at  tlie 
former  place,  Mr.  Judson  went  down  to  the  latter, 
on  the  10th  of  November,  and,  fom*  days  after,  him- 
self, Mr.  and  Mrs.  AYade,  Moung  Shwa-ba,  and 
Moimg  Ing,  who  had  returned  from  Mergui  nearly  a 
month  previous,  removed  to  Maulmain.  Eleven  of 
the  females  connected  with  Mrs.  Wade's  school,  and 
some  boys  left  in  charge  of  the  missionaries  by  Mah 
Men-la,  accompanied  them.  Mr.  Boardman  had 
already  established  a  school  for  boys,  and  Mrs. 
Boardman  another  for  girls  :  the  girls  whom  Mrs. 
Wade  had  in  charge,  were  put  into  the  latter  school, 
and  the  two  women  labored  conjointly,  and  with 
gratifying  tokens  of  the  Divine  approbation.  Two 
zayats,  for  Messrs.  Judson  and  Wade,  were  forth- 
with erected,  and  all  the  missionaries  were  soon 
prosperously  at  work  together  in  the  new  capital, 
whose  population  now  numbered  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  thousand. 

The  following  record,  made  by  Mr.  Judson,  shows 
the  promising  aspect  of  things  immediately  after  the 
union  of  the  missionary  band : 

"  November  25.  Lord's  day. — We  have  aiTanged 
a  large  room  in  front  of  the  house,  in  the  manner  of 
the  zayat,  and  to-day  set  up  worship  in  the  old  Ran- 
goon fashion  ;  and  a  busy  day  it  has  been.  About 
seventy  persons,  great  and  small,  attended  worship 
in  the  afternoon;  after  which,  twenty  or  thirty 
women  followed  Mrs.  Wade  into  another  room,  and 
listened  to  her  instruction.'^ 


190  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

Early  in  the  Avinter  of  182T,  Mr.  Judson  resolved 
to  erect  a  reading  zayat,  for  the  benefit  of  such  per- 
sons as  could  not  peruse  the  Burman  Scriptures,  yet 
were  disposed  to  hear  them  read.  Moung  Shwa-ba 
and  Moung  Ing  were  appointed  to  perform  alter- 
nately the  exercises  at  this  place;  and  the  former 
made  the  commencement  on  the  third  Sunday  in 
December.  He  was,  at  this  period,  employed  half 
of  the  time  on  account  of  the  mission,  and  the  other 
half  in  connection  with  the  female  school.  Moung 
Ing  was  devoting  all  his  time  to  the  interests  of  the 
mission,  his  office  being  that  of  an  itinerant,  having 
the  whole  city  for  his  field. 

All  the  missionaries  and  the  two  assistants  were 
assiduously  engaged  in  their  delightful  work  at  the 
close  of  the  year,  and  their  several  distinct  depart- 
ments of  labor  were  meeting  with  the  favor  of 
Heaven.  Attentive  listeners  were  seen  at  the  reading 
zayat;  inquirers  were  visiting  the  male  missionaries 
at  their  several  places  of  instruction  ;  children  in 
the  female  school  were  inquiring  the  way  to  Jesus  ; 
and  two  or  three  adults,  who  were  indulging  the  hope 
that  their  sins  had  been  forgiven,  were  contemplating 
bm-ial  with  Christ  in  baptism. 

The  first  disciples  of  the  new  religion,  who  went 
down  into  the  waters  at  Maulmain,  were  Moung 
Dwah,  the  husband  of  Mah  Doke,  and  a  female 
named  Mali  Lah.  They  were  baptized  on  the  17th 
of  January,  1828.  Another  followed  in  the  same 
ordinance  on  the  20th  of  March. 

The  collection  of  the  missionaries  at  Maulmain, 


OF   ADONIRAM   JTJDSON.  191 

did  not  favorably  impress  the  Board :  neither  did 
they  themselves  consider  it  desirable  that  they  should 
permanently  remain  there.  The  corresponding  secre- 
tary addressed  them  on  the  subject ;  they  cheerfully 
complied  with  his  instructions,  and  it  was  decided 
that  Mr.  Boardman  should  remove  to  the  province 
of  Tavoy,  and  establish  a  mission  at  its  principal 
town,  which  takes  the  name  of  the  district.  Thither 
he  went,  on  the  29th  of  March,  and  there  he  labored 
with  remarkable  success,  particularly  among  the 
Karens.  Though  his  career  as  a  missionary  was 
brief,  he  lived  long  enough  to  merit,  for  self-sacrific- 
ing toils  and  lofty  generosity  of  spirit,  the  title  of 
christian  hero.  He  died  on  the  11th  of  February, 
1831,  and  was  buried  in  what  was  once  a  Buddhist 
grove,  and  beside  a  forsaken  and  dilapidated  pagoda. 
His  tomb  is  covered  by  a  marble  slab,  which  was 
placed  there  by  three  ofiicers  of  the  provincial  gov- 
ernment. Mr.  Judson's  feelings  on  hearing  of  his 
demise,  are  thus  expressed  in  his  journal  of  February 
28th :  "  One  of  the  brightest  luminaries  of  Burmah 
is  extinguished  —  dear  brother  Boardman  has  gone 
to  his  eternal  rest.  He  fell  gloriously  at  the  head  of 
his  troops,  in  the  arms  of  victory  —  thirty-eight  wild 
Karens  having  been  brought  into  the  camp  of  King 
Jesus,  since  the  beginning  of  the  year,  besides  the- 
thirty-two  that  were  brought  in  during  the  two  pre- 
ceding years.  Disabled  by  mortal  wounds,  he  was 
obliged,  through  the  whole  of  his  last  expedition,  to 
be  carried  on  a  litter ;  but  his  presence  was  a  host, 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  accompanied  his  dying  whispers 


192  THE  MISSIONAET  LABORS 

with  almighty  influence.  Such  a  death,  next  to 
that  of  martji'dom,  must  be  glorious  in  the  eyes  of 
Heaven." 

The  blessing  of  Heaven  continued  to  attend  the 
efforts  of  the  missionaries  who  remained  at  Maul 
main.  The  day  after  Mr.  Eoardman's  depart- 
ure, three  converts  were  baptized,  and  three  oth- 
er persons  were  giving  evidence  of  having  been 
born  of  the  Spirit.  During  the  months  of  April 
and  May,  Mr.  Judson  was  absent  from  the  zayat 
scarcely  a  day,  and  he  rarely  failed  to  meet  ear- 
nest inquirers,  and  not  unfrequently  half  a  dozen 
at  a  time.  He  was  thus  busily  employed  dur- 
ing the  year,  nor  did  the  interest  diminish  in  the 
least. 

The  number  of  additions  made  to  the  little  church 
by  baptism,  in  1828,  was  thirty,  and  these  were  all 
natives.  Eight  were  connected  with  Mrs.  Wade's 
school,  and  one  was  Mah-ree  or  Mary  Hasseltine, 
the  only  surviving  member  of  Mrs.  Jndson's  school 
at  Ava. 

The  following  card,  having  reference  to  the  honor- 
ary title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  was  dated  at  Maul- 
main,  May  9th,  1828 : 

"  I  beg  leave  to  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  re- 
questing my  correspondents  and  friends,  through  the 
medium  of  the  American  Baptist  Magazine,  and  the 
Columbian  Star,  no  longer  to  apply  to  my  name  the 
title  which  was  conferred  on  me  in  the  year  1823,  by 
the  corporation  of  Brown  University,  and  which, 


OF   ADONLRAM   JTIDSON.  193 

with  all   deference  and   respect  for  that  honorable 
body,  I  hereby  resign. 

"  !N'early  three  yeare  elapsed  before  I  was  informed 
of  the  honor  done  me,  and  two  years  more  have 
been  suflered  to  pass,  partly  from  the  gromidless  idea 
that  it  was  too  late  to  decline  the  honor,  and  partly 
through  fear  of  doing  what  might  seem  to  reflect  on 
those  who  have  taken  a  different  com'se,  or  be  liable 
to  the  charge  of  affected  singularity,  or  superstitious 
preciseness.  But  I  am  now  convinced  that  the  com- 
mands of  Christ,  and  the  general  spirit  of  the  gos- 
pel, are  paramount  to  all  i:>rudential  considerations ; 
and  I  only  regret,  that  I  have  so  long  delayed  to 
make  this  communication. 

A.  Jtjdson." 

On  the  4:th  of  January,  1829,  Messrs.  Judson  and 
Wade  had  the  happiness  of  ordaining  Ko  Thah-a  as 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Rangoon,  where  he  had  been 
laboring  with  a  few  followers  of  the  Saviour,  since 
the  close  of  the  war.  In  Mr.  Judson's  opinion,  he 
had  most  excellent  qualifications  for  the  office  to 
which  he  was  called ;  and  he  was  commissioned  to 
administer  all  the  ordinances.  He  took  his  depar- 
ture for  Rangoon  one  w^eek  after  his  ordination ;  and 
his  subsequent  success  showed  that  Mr.  Judson's  es- 
timate of  his  ministerial  qualifications  was  correct. 
Moung  Ing  became  his  associate  in  a  short  time,  and 
through  their  united  efforts,  twenty  were  added  to 
the  Rangoon  church,  by  baptism,  before  the  close  of 
the  year.     Furthermore,  several  native  christians, 


194:  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

wlio  had  been  scattered  tlirougli  the  jungles,  hearing 
of  their  labors,  and  of  the  resuscitation  and  enlarge- 
ment of  the  church,  came  into  the  city,  renewed  their 
covenant  vows,  and  worked  as  part  of  the  organized 
body. 

Among  the  promising  inquirers  and  applicants  for 
baptism,  who  visited  Mr.  Judson  during  the  first 
half  of  the  year  1829,  was  a  woman,  whose  case  was 
peculiar,  and  is  thus  mentioned  in  his  journal  for 
June  7th : 

"  Several  applications  for  baptism  have  lately  been 
refused,  the  applicants  being  relatives  of  professors 
of  religion,  and  influenced,  we  fear,  by  the  example 
and  persuasion  of  others,  rather  than  by  the  impulse 
of  grace.  To-day,  however,  a  clear  case  occurred  — 
an  old  lady,  eighty  years  of  age,  mother-in-law  of  a 
petty  chief,  who  is  one  of  our  bitterest  opposers. 
She  commenced  her  inquiries,  several  months  ago, 
with  a  great  deal  of  timidity.  And  though  she  has 
acquired  a  little  courage,  and  is  a  person  of  consid- 
erable presence,  she  almost  trembles  under  a  sense 
of  the  great  responsibility  of  changing  her  religion. 
Such  being  her  character,  the  promptness  with  which 
she  answered  our  questions  before  the  church,  affected 
us  even  to  tears.  'How  old  are  you,  mother?' 
'  Eighty  years.'  '  Can  you,  at  such  an  age,  renounce 
the  religion  that  you  have  followed  all  your  life  long  ? ' 
'  I  see  that  it  is  false,  and  I  renounce  it  all.'  '  Why 
do  you  wish  to  be  baptized  into  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ V    'I  have  very,  very  many  sins ;  and  I  love 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  195 

the  Lord  who  saves  from  sin.'  '  Perhaps  your  son- 
in-law,  on  hearing  that  you  have  been  baptized,  will 
abuse  you,  and  turn  you  out  of  doors.'  '  I  have 
another  son-in-law,  to  whom  I  will  ilee.'  '  But  he 
also  is  an  opposer :  suppose  you  should  meet  with 
the  same  treatment  there.'  '  You  will,  I  think,  let 
me  come  and  live  near  you.'  We  made  no  reply, 
willing  that  she  should  prove  her  sincerity  by  bear 
ing  the  brunt  alone.  Her  name  is  Mah  Hlah.  Be- 
hold this  venerable  woman,  severing,  at  her  time  of 
life,  all  the  ties  which  bind  her  to  a  large  circle  of 
connections  and  friends,  hazarding  the  loss  of  a  com 
fortable,  respectable  situation,  the  loss  of  character, 
the  loss  of  a  shelter  for  her  gray  head,  throwing  her 
self  on  the  charity  of  certain  foreigners  ;  and  all  foi 
the  sake  of  'the  Lord  who  saves  from  sin!'  O 
blessed  efficacy  of  the  love  of  Christ ! " 

The  number  baptized  into  the  Maulmain  church, 
in  the  year  1829,  was  twenty-eight.  Ten  of  these 
were  English  soldiers,  who  were  shortly  formed  into 
a  church  by  themselves. 

While  Mr.  Judson  was  carrying  on  his  labors  at 
the  zayat,  there  and  elsewhere  pointing  the  perishing 
heathen  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  there  were  hours,  or 
fragments  of  hours,  almost  every  day,  wluch  an 
economist  of  time  like  him  could  rescue  from  the 
oblivion  of  idleness,  and  these  he  was  accustomed 
to  devote  to  literary  toil.  In  this  department  of 
labor  he  was  now  receiving  valuable  aid  from  Mr. 
Wade*    At  the  close  of  the  autumn  of  1829,  after 


196  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

twelve  or  fifteen  months'  close  study,  tliey  had  thor- 
oughly revised  the  New  Testament  and  the  Epitome 
of  the  Old,  and  had  ready  for  j)ress  no  less  than 
twelve  other  smaller  works.  These  Mr.  Judson 
enumerates  as  follows,  in  his  journal  for  JS'ovember 
29th. 

1st.  The  Catechism  of  Eeligion.  This  has  already 
passed  through  two  editions,  in  Burmese.  It  has 
also  been  translated  and  printed  in  Siamese,  and 
translated  in  Taling  or  Peguese. 

2d.  The  Yiew  of  the  Christian  Eeligion;  thor- 
oughly revised  for  the  fourth  edition,  in  Burmese. 
It  has  also  been  translated  in  Taling  and  Siamese. 

3d.  The  Order  of  Worship  of  the  Burman  Church. 

4:th.  The  Baptismal  Service. 

5th.  The  Marriage  Service. 

6th.  The  Funeral  Service :  the  three  last  consist- 
ing chiefly  of  extracts  from  Scripture. 

7th.  The  Teacher's  Guide ;  or  a  digest  of  those 
parts  of  the  New  Testament  which  relate  to  the  duty 
of  teachers  of  religion;  designed  particularly  for 
native  pastors. 

8th.  A  Catechism  of  Astronomy. 

9th.  A  Catechism  of  Geography. 

10th.  A  Table  of  Chronological  History;  or  a 
Eegister  of  principal  events,  from  the  creation  to  the 
present  time. 

11th.  The  Memoir  of  Mee  Shwa-ee.* 


'A  little  Burman  girl,  rescued  from  slavery  at  Amherst. 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSOIf.  197 

12tli.  The  Golden  Balance ;  or  the  Christian  and 
Buddhist  Systems  Contrasted.  Tliis  has  been  trans- 
lated in  the  Taling. 

At  the  time  the  above  was  written,  the  Gospel  of 
Matthew,  which  had  been  translated  in  the  Siamese, 
by  Mrs.  Jndson,  was  being  translated  in  Taling  by 
an  assistant  in  that  department,  named  Ko  Man-poke. 

It  will  be  seen  that  there  was  printing  enough  to 
do ;  but  as  yet  there  was  no  press  at  Maulmain.  All 
work  of  this  kind  had  to  be  sent  to  Serampore,  which 
seriously  impeded  the  progress  of  the  mission.  The 
wants  of  those  who  were  anxious  to  read,  could  not 
be  supplied.  These  wants,  and  Mr.  Judson's  feel- 
ino;s  under  the  circumstances,  are  indicated  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  a  friend,  in  May,  1829.  "O,  it  is  affect- 
ing," he  says,  "  to  see  with  what  eagerness  the  poor 
people,  men,  women,  and  children,  listen  to  the 
sound  of  the  gospel  in  their  own  native  tongue ;  how 
they  sometimes  gather  close  around  the  reader,  and 
listen  with  their  eyes  as  well  as  ears.  We  keep  a 
Taling  copyist  at  work  all  the  time ;  but  it  is  impos- 
sible to  do  anything  toward  supplying  the  demand 
for  Taling  tracts.  Indeed,  the  expense  is  so  great, 
that  we  do  not  think  of  giving  copies,  except  in  the 
most  pressing  and  important  cases.  The  same  is  to 
be  said  of  the  Golden  Balance  in  Burmese.  O,  we 
we  want  a  thousand  copies  of  this  work  to  be  sent 
instantly  into  all  parts  of  the  country — to  Tavoy  and 
Mergui,  on  the  south;  to  Rangoon,  Prome,  and 
Ava,  on  the  north ;  in  all  of  which  places  we  have 


198  THE  MTSSIONART   LABOES 

correspondents,  or  some  means  of  commnni cation. 
But  we  are  like  men  with  their  hands  cut  off." 

Advertised  of  the  wants  of  the  mission,  the  Board 
sent  out  Mr.  Cephas  Bennett,  a  practical  printer,  who 
arrived  at  Maulmain,  with  a  press  and  types,  on  the 
14:th  of  January,  1830.  His  wife  and  two  children 
accompanied  him.  He  forthwith  commenced  opera- 
tions, and  the  works  most  needed  were  soon  put  to 
press. 

In  February,  1830,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  went  to 
Rangoon  on  a  visit,  with  the  expectation  of  returning 
in  a  short  time ;  but  their  help  was  so  much  needed 
that  they  concluded  to  remain  awhile.  About  the 
middle  of  April,  the  intense  heat  of  the  place  so  af- 
fected Mr.  Wade,  who  had  an  attack  of  the  liver 
complaint,  that  he  took  a  trip  to  Maulmain,  for  his 
improvement.  When  he  returned,  which  was  the 
first  week  in  May,  Mr.  Judson  accompanied  him, 
being  encouraged  to  make  an  effort  to  reenter  the 
heart  of  Burmah  proper.  He  found  the  spirit  of  in- 
quiry, in  Rangoon,  ''more  prevalent  and  more  boldly 
indulged  than  formerly,"  and  had  reason  "  to  thank 
God  for  all  the  past,  and  take  courage  for  the  time  to 
come." 

On  the  25th  of  May  he  writes  :  "  Every  day 
deepens  the  conviction  in  my  mind,  that  I  am  not  in 
the  i^lace  where  God  would  have  me  be.  It  was  to 
the  interior,  and  not  to  Rangoon,  that  my  mind  was 
turned  long  before  I  left  Maulmain ;  and  while  I  feel 
that  brother  and  sister  Wade  are  in  the  right  place, 
I  feel  that  I  am  called  elsewhere." 


OF   ADOIHRAM   JUDSON.  199 

The  place  lie  had  in  view  at  this  time,  was  the 
city  of  Prome,  about  half  way  up  the  Irrawaddy  to 
Ava.  Thither  he  started  on  the  29th  of  the  month, 
accompanied  by  Moung  Ing,  and  three  or  four  other 
native  converts.  The  boat  was  about  two  weeks  in 
reaching  Prome,  Mr.  Judson  being  in  no  haste,  and 
wishing  to  sow  beside  the  waters  on  the  route.  He 
halted  at  most  of  the  settlements  along  the  shores, 
and  distributed  books  and  tracts,  and  sometimes 
"  held  forth "  to  the  throngs  that  gathered  round 
him.  They  were  so  eager  to  obtain  books  that,  in 
some  instances,  they  not  only  pursued  him  to  the 
boat,  at  night,  but  when  he  had  j)ushed  out  into  the 
stream  to  avoid  them  and  obtain  rest,  they  would 
stand  on  the  shore  and  call,  in  the  dead  of  night,  to 
know  if  the  teacher  were  asleep,  stating  that  they 
wanted  "  a  writing  to  get  by  heart."  At  one  or  two 
villages,  he  met  early  converts,  whom  he  had  not 
seen  for  years,  and  at  others,  heard,  in  one  or  two 
instances,  of  the  conversion  of  persons  whom  he  had 
'  never  seen,  but  in  whose  hearts  the  seeds  of  truth 
had  been  lodged,  through  his  instrumentality,  long 
before. 

^"The  people  of  Prome,  influenced  by  suspicion,  or 
more  probably  afraid  of  goverment,  refused  to  rent 
Mr.  Judson  a  house;  and  he  found  it  diflScult  to 
obtain  a  home.  As  the  only  alternative,  he  sought 
an  English  gentleman,  the  sole  European  living 
there,  and  under  his  shattered  roof  he  was  freely 
admitted.  The  first  Sabbath  in  the  place,  July 
13th,  he  passed  at  home,  worshiping  with  his  little 


200  THE   JkHSSIONAEY   LABORS 

company  of  disciples,  and  studying  "  patience  and 
/  Thomas  a'  Kempis,"  "  with  the  rain  beating  in  on 
'  every  side." 

The  day  previous  to  this,  he  had  found  an  aged 
and  dismantled  zayat,  with  a  patch  of  ground  around 
it,  in  the  center  of  the  city,  and  had  received  some 
encouragement  from  the  deputy  governor,  that  it 
should  be  repaired  for  his  use.  On  Monday,  he 
went  to  the  court  house,  where  his  excellency  agreed 
the  matter  should  be  decided.  He  "  found  the  ma- 
gistrates assembled,  each  sitting  at  his  post  in  Bur- 
man  style,  and  the  deputy  governor  in  the  center. 
He  pretended,"  continues  Mr.  Judson,  "  not  to  see 
or  know  me.  I  waited  some  time,  and  in  an  inter- 
val of  business,  addressed  some  of  the  inferior  ma- 
gistrates. An  inquiry  arose  who  I  was,  and  what  I 
wanted.  The  deputy  governor  began  slyly  to  assist 
me,  and  after  some  considerable  conversation,  it  was 
unanimously  agreed  that  I  should  be  permitted  to 
take  possession  of  the  old  zayat,  and  repair  it  for 
my  present  residence.  From  the  court  house  I  went 
to  survey  my  new  estate.  I  find  it  to  be  forty-five 
feet  long  and  twenty  wide.  The  posts  and  the  main 
parts  of  the  roof  and  floor,  being  of  teak,  are  still 
extant ;  but  it  is  all  overgrown  with  wild  creepers, 
and  makes,  on  the  whole,  a  pretty  venerable  ruin. 
It  stands  on  holy  ground,  occupying  one  corner  of 
the  enclosure  of  a  pagoda." 

The  repairing  of  this  "  venerable  ruin  "  was  com- 
menced on  the  15th  of  June,  and  Mr.  Judson  soon 
had  an  opportunity  to  lift  uj)  his  voice  publicly  and 


OF  ADONIRAM  JTIDSOIC.  201 

cry,  "  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the 
waters,"  in  a  city  that  had  stood  twenty-five  centu- 
ries and  had  never  before  been  invited  to  drink  of  / 
the  river  of  life.  One  or  two  other  zayats  were 
soon  erected  for  the  use  of  Moung  Ing  and  his 
associates. 

For  awhile  the  votaries  of  Gandama  crowded  to 
the  zayats,  from  day  to  day,  and  listened  to  the 
pressing  and  precious  invitation ;  many  seemed  will- 
ing to  comply  with  its  terms,  and  a  few,  a  very  few, 
did  do  it.  At  length,  while  things  were  in  this 
state,  the  enemy,  writes  Mr.  Jndson,  (August  23d, 
1830,)  "assumed  a  threatening  aspect;  the  poor  peo- 
ple became  frightened;  many  sent  b"ack  the  tracts 
they  had  received ;  and  there  was  a  general  falling 
off  at  the  zayats.  I  was  summoned  to  undergo  a 
long  examination  at  the  court  house,  not,  however, 
on  the  subject  of  religion,  but  concerning  all  my  past 
life,  since  I  have  been  in  Burmah.  The  result  was 
forwarded  to  Ava.  The  magistrates  still  preserve  a 
perfect  neutrality,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of 
the  governor.  At  Ava,  I  have  been  regarded  as  a 
suspicious  character  ever  since  I  deserted  them  at 
the  close  of  the  war  and  went  over  to  the  British. 
I  know  not  what  impression  the  governor  of  this 
place  will  there  receive,  or  how  he  will  feel  toward 
me,  when  he  is  informed  of  the  noise  I  am  making 
in  Prome." 

Mr.  Judson  continued  to  labor  at  this  place  until 
autumn,  though  there  was  but  little  to  encourage 
him  at  the  zayats,  or  indeed  elsewhere.     Yet  he 


202  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

managed,  as  usual,  to  employ  himself  in  some  useful 
manner.  On  the  8th  of  September,  he  writes  to  the 
missionaries  at  Maulmain :  *  "  The  rise  of  the  river 
has,  for  several  days,  prevented  my  going  to  the  zay- 
ats,  they  being  situated  in  a  distant  part  of  the  town. 
I  have  employed  myself  in  revising  brother  Wade's 
Investigator:  and  send  herewith  a  clean  copy.  In 
return,  I  hope  to  be  favored  with  a  few  hundred 
printed  copies." 

At  this  date,  the  last  inquirer  had  fled  from  the 
zayat  and,  probably,  from  the  place ;  and  the  way 
seemed  nearly  clear  for  Mr.  Judson's  return  to  Ran- 
goon. Ten  days  afterward,  being  afloat  on  his  little 
boat  just  below  the  city,  he  writes:  "I  take  leave 
of  Prome  and  her  towering  god,  Shwa  Lan-dau,  at 
whose  base,  I  have  been  laboring  with  the  kindest 
intentions,  for  the  last  three  months  and  a  half.  Too 
firmly  founded  art  thou,  to  be  overthrown  at  pres- 
ent ;  but  the  children  of  those  who  now  plaster  thee 
with  gold,  will  yet  pull  thee  down,  nor  leave  one 
brick  upon  another." 

Though  somewhat  disappointed  at  being  forsaken 
by  the  inquirers  at  the  zayat,  and  obliged  to  leave 
Prome  so  soon,  Mr.  Judson  was  not  wholly  dissatis- 
fied with  his  brief  sojourn  there.  He  had  communi- 
cated many  a  "  momentous  message  "  to  its  inquiring 
citizens ;  he  had  also  scattered  hundreds  of  tracts ; 
and  having  thus  cast  the  bread  upon  the  waters,  he 


*  Mr.  Boardman  -was  at  Maulmain  part  of  the  time  during  Mr. 
Judson's  absence  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Wade  returned  there  in  July, 
1830. 


OF  ADONmAM  JDDSON.  2^3 

departed  with  a  buoyant  and  hopeful  spirit,  expecting 
to  "  find  it  after  many  days." 

"Farewell  to  thee,  Prome!  "Willingly  would  I 
have  spent  my  last  breath  in  thee  and  for  thee.  But 
thy  sons  ask  me  not  to  stay ;  and  I  must  preach  the 
gospel  to  other  cities,  also ;  for  therefore  am  I  sent. 
Read  the  five  hundred  tracts  that  I  have  left  with 
thee.  Pray  to  the  God  and  Saviour  that  I  have  told 
thee  of.  And  if,  hereafter,  thou  call  me,  though  in 
the  lowest  w^hisper,  and  it  reach  me  in  the  very  ex- 
tremities of  the  empire,  I  will  joyfully  listen,  and 
come  back  to  thee." 

Mr.  Judson  landed  in  Rangoon  on  the  25th  of 
September ;  and,  on  the  8th  of  the  following  month, 
ascertained  the  cause  of  the  sudden  and  somewhat 
mysterious  cessation  of  visits  at  the  zayats,  in  Prome. 
The  king  had  become  annoyed,  because  he  was  in 
the  heart  of  his  empire,  distributing  tracts  and  pro- 
mulgating the  doctrines  of  a  religion  at  war  with 
Buddhism,  and  had  issued  an  order  for  his  removal 
from  Prome.  The  people,  hearing  of  this  royal  step, 
became  alarmed,  and  shunned  the  strange  teacher. 
The  order  thus  issued,  the  woongyees  were  reluctant 
to  execute,  and  applied  to  Major  Burney,  the  British 
Resident  at  the  capital,  to  use  his  authority,  and  com- 
pel Mr.  Judson  to  depart.  But  he  assured  them  he 
had  not  a  right  to  interfere,  as  the  missionary  had  no 
connection  with  the  British  government:  he  further- 
more begged  them  not  to  proceed  in  the  prosecution 
of  a  measure  which  good  men  in  all  countries  would 
condemn  for  its  intolerance.    They  replied,  that  the 


/ 


204:  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

king's  orders  were  peremptoiy;  that  he  must  leave 
the  interior,  and  limit  his  labors  to  the  boundaries  of 
Rangoon.  Seeing  how  the  case  stood,  Major  Burney 
agreed  to  notify  Mr.  Judson  of  the  king's  order ;  but 
Providence  had  ordained  that  the  messenger  of  peace 
should,  of  his  own  accord,  shake  from  his  feet  the 
dust  of  the  old  idolatrous  city  of  Prome,  and  depart 
in  peace. 


CHAPTEK    XYI. 

Labors  of  Mr.  Judson  at  Rangoon  —  Removal  to  Maulmain  —  Arrival  of  Messrs. 
Mason,  KincaiJ,  and  Jones  —  Mr.  Judson  travels  in  the  Jungle,  and  estab- 
lishes the  Christian  Communilies  of  Wadesville,  Newville,  and  Chummerah  — • 
Another  Tour  among  the  Karens. 

On  his  return  to  Rangoon,  Mr.  Judson  found  the 
mass  of  the  people  so  fearful  of  being  apprehended  by 
government,  that  they  avoided  the  public  place  of 
christian  worship ;  and,  such  being  the  case,  although 
there  were  many  secret  inquirers,  he  deemed  it  a 
suitable  time  to  hasten  forward  the  translation  of  the 
Scriptures ;  for  he  now  felt  more  than  ever  the  im- 
portance of  having  the  task  completed.  Retiring  to 
the  garret  of  the  house  which  himself  and  some  of 
the  disciples  occupied,  he  resumed  his  labors  on  the 
Psalms,  which  he  had  begun  to  translate  three  years 
previous,  and  which  had  been  laid  aside  to  attend  to 
more  pressing  work.  But  his  seclusion  was  not  such 
as  to  free  liim  from  interruption ;  nor  was  the  inter- 
est in  spiritual  matters  at  such  a  low  ebb  as  to  make 
it  desirable  that  he  should  wholly  withdraw  from 
personal  contact  with  the  people.  While  the  disci- 
ples who  occupied  the  front  part  of  the  house  below, 


206  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOE8 

were  accustomed  to  receive  calls  from  inquirers,  and 
present  them  with  tracts  and  portions  of  the  divine 
word,  the  more  hopeful  ones  were  admitted  to  Mr. 
Judson's  apartment ;  and  they  were  so  numerous  as 
to  absorb  more  than  half  of  his  time.  "  People,"  he 
says,  "  find  their  way  to  me  from  all  parts  of  the 
country,  and  some,  I  trust,  return  with  that  light  in 
their  heads,  and  that  love  in  their  hearts,  and  that 
truth  in  their  hands,  which  will  operate  as  a  little 
leaven,  until  the  whole  mass  is  leavened." 

The  spirit  of  inquiry,  so  prevalent  in  the  autumn 
of  1830,  continued  through  the  following  winter  and 
spring,  and  seemed  to  be  spreading  through  the 
whole  region ;  and  Mr.  Judson  sometimes  felt  alarm- 
ed, as  he  beautifully  expresses  himself,  "  like  a  per- 
son who  sees  a  mighty  engine  beginning  to  move, 
over  which  he  knows  he  has  no  control." 

During  the  several  months  that  he  occupied  the 
garret,  he  perambulated  the  streets  about  sunrise, 
from  day  to  day,  partially,  we  suppose,  for  his 
health,  but  more  particularly,  as  he  himself  states, 
to  distribute  tracts.  He  made  it  a  rule,  to  give  to 
none  but  those  who  asked  for  them ;  and,  when  he 
first  commenced,  usually  disposed  of  less  than  twen- 
ty. In  a  few  months,  they  averaged  more  than  three 
times  that  number,  and  he  had  reason  to  think  that 
they  were  generally  read  and  preserved. 

The  anxiety  of  the  disciples  of  Gaudama  to  know 
something  about  the  true  God,  was  strikingly  man- 
ifested at  a  festival  in  honor  of  the  false  god, 
held  near  the  dose  of  the  winter  of  1830-31,  and 


OF   ADONIRAM  JUDSOIT.  207 

witnessed  by  Mr.  Judson.  He  speaks  of  it,  and  other 
matters  of  interest,  in  a  letter  written  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1831,  and  addressed  to  a  friend  in  Connecti- 
cut, who  had  sent  him  a  donation  of  fifty  dollars. 
After  thanking  this  gentleman  for  his  contribution, 
and  expressing  a  wish  that  such  presents  might  be- 
come more  frequent,  and  be  made  directly  to  the 
Board,  he  continues : 

"  I  can  spare  time  to  write  a  few  lines  only,  having 
a  constant  press  of  missionary  work  on  hand ;  add 
to  which,  that  the  weather  is  di^eadfully  oppressive  at 
this  season.  Poor  Boardman  has  just  died  under  it^ 
and  Mrs.  "Wade  is  nearly  dead.  Brother  Wade  and 
myself  are  now  the  only  men  in  the  mission  that 
can  speak  and  write  the  language ;  and  we  have  a 
population  of  above  ten  millions  of  perishing  souls 
before  us.  I  am  persuaded  that  the  only  reason  why 
all  the  dear  friends  of  Jesus  in  America  do  not  come 
forward  in  the  support  of  missions,  is  mere  want  of 
information,  (such  information  as  they  w^ould  obtain 
by  taking  any  of  the  periodical  publications.)  If 
they  could  only  see  and  know  half  what  I  do,  they 
would  give  all  their  property,  and  their  persons  too. 

"The  great  annual  festival  is  just  past,  during 
which  multitudes  came  from  the  remotest  parts  of 
the  country,  to  worship  at  the  great  Shway  Dagong 
pagoda,  in  this  place,  where  it  is  believed  that  sev- 
eral real  hairs  of  Gaudama  are  enshrined.  During 
the  festival,  I  have  given  away  nearly  ten  thousand 
tracts,  giving  to  none  but  those  who  ask.    I  presume 


208  THE   MISSION AKY    LAEOPwS 

there  liave  been  six  thousand  aj)plications  at  the 
house.  Some  come  two  or  three  months'  journey, 
from  the  borders  of  Siam  and  China, — '  Sir,  we  hear 
that  there  is  an  eternal  hell.  We  are  afraid  of  it. 
Do  give  us  a  waiting  that  will  tell  us  how  to  escape 
it.'  Others  come  from  the  frontiers  of  Cassay,  a 
hundred  miles  north  of  Ava, — '  Sir,  we  have  seen  a 
writing  that  tells  about  an  eternal  God.  Are  you  the 
man  that  gives  aw^ay  such  writings?  If  so,  pray 
give  us  one,  for  we  want  to  know  the  truth  before  w^e 
die.'  Others  come  from  the  interior  of  the  country, 
where  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  is  a  little  known, — 
'  Are  you  Jesus  Christ's  man  ?  Give  us  a  writing 
that  tells  about  Jesus  Christ.'  Brother  Bennett  works 
day  and  night  at  press ;  but  he  is  unable  to  supply 
us  ;  for  the  call  is  great  at  Maulmain  and  Tavoy,  as 
well  as  here,  and  his  types  are  very  poor,  and  he  has 
no  efficient  help.  The  fact  is,  that  we  are  very  weak, 
and  have  to  complain  that  hitherto  we  have  not 
been  well  supported  from  home.  It  is  most  distress- 
ing to  find,  when  we  are  almost  worn  out,  and  are 
sinking,  one  after  another,  into  the  grave,  that  many 
of  our  brethren  in  Christ  at  home,  are  just  as  hard 
and  immovable  as  rocks  ;  just  as  cold  and  repulsive 
as  the  mountains  of  ice  in  the  polar  seas.  But  what- 
ever they  do,  we  cannot  sit  still,  and  see  the  dear 
Burmans,  flesh  and  blood  like  ourselves,  and  like 
ourselves  possessed  of  immortal  souls,  that  will  shine 
forever  in  heaven,  or  bum  forever  in  hell, —  we  can 
not  see  them  go  down  to  perdition,  without  doing 
our  very  utmost  to  save  them.    And  thanks  be  to 


OP   ADONIEAM   JUDSOX.  209 

God,  our  labors  are  not  in  vain.  We  have  three 
lovely  churches,  and  about  two  hundred  baj^tized 
converts,  and  some  are  in  glory.  A  spirit  of  reli- 
gious inquiry  is  extensively  spreading  throughout 
the  country,  and  the  signs  of  the  times  indicate  that 
the  great  renovation  of  Bm-mah  is  drawing  near. 
O,  if  we  had  about  twenty  more  versed  in  the  lan- 
guage, and  means  to  spread  schools,  and  tracts,  and 
Bibles,  to  any  extent,  how  happy  I  should  be ! " 

In  the  summer  of  1831,  Mr.  Judson  went  to  Maul- 
main  to  take  the  place  of  Mr.  Wade,  who  was  obliged 
to  leave  on  account  of  the  ill  health  of  his  wife. 
They  contemplated  visiting  the  United  States,  and 
embarked  for  Calcutta  W' ith  that  intention ;  but  the 
ship  in  which  they  sailed  was  driven  out  of  her 
course  by  violent  gales,  and  put  into  Kyouk  Phyoo, 
an  Arracanese  port,  where  Mrs.  Wade's  health  so 
rapidly  improved,  that  the  visit  to  this  country  was 
abandoned.  They  returned  to  Maulmain  in  Septem- 
ber, and  proceeded  to  Mergui,'^  in  the  province  of  the 
same  name,  and  there  labored  six  months,  and  then 
went  to  Eangoon. 

Previous  to  Mr.  Judson's  removal  to  Maulmain, 
the  mission  had  been  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  six 
missionaries, —  Eev.  Messrs.  Francis  Mason,  Eugenio 

*  Mergui  is  the  capital  of  the  province,  and  is  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  south  of  Tavoy.  A  native  assistant  had  visited  the 
place  four  years  previous,  by  direction  of  the  roissionaries ;  and  while 
Mr.  Wade  was  there,  a  smaH  church  was  organized,  and  this  assistap* 
appointed  pastor. 


210  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOItS 

Kincaid,  and  J.  T.  Jones,  and  their  wives.  Mr 
Mason  arrived  just  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Board- 
man,  and  took  his  place  at  Tavoy,  where  lie  is  still 
laboring.  Mr.  Jones  went  to  Eangoon,  to  take  the 
place  of  Mr.  Jndson ;  returned  to  Maulmain  in  the 
early  part  of  1832,  and  ere  long  went  to  Siam,  where 
he  is  now  living  with  his  third  wife.  His  removal 
from  Kangoon  occasioned  the  transfer  of  Mr.  Wade 
from  Merscui  thither.  Mr.  Kincaid  was  stationed 
awhile  at  Maulmain,  and  labored  in  connection  with 
Messrs.  Judson  and  Bennett.  He  had  charge  of  the 
European  chm-ch.  His  wife  died  on  the  19th  of 
December,  1831,  only  a  few  months  after  her  arrival 
on  foreign  shores.  Mr.  Judson  preached  the  funeral 
sermon,  taking  for  his  subject,  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead ;  and  many  a  veteran  soldier,  writes  the  smitten 
one,  "  wept  over  the  awful  solemnities  of  the  grave." 
Mr.  Kincaid  removed  to  Kangoon  in  February,  1832. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Judson's  removal  to  Maulmain,  a 
school  was  opened  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  adults 
to  read.  It  commenced  with  five  pupils,  two  of 
whom  were  members  of  the  church  ;  and  by  the  first 
of  November,  ten  weeks  after  its  commencement,  it 
numbered  twenty.  It  prospered  until  its  suspension, 
which  was  at  the  close  of  the  year,  its  members 
generally  having  become  fluent  readers. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  Mr,  Judson  started  for 
Wadesville,  three  or  fom'  day's  journey  from  Maul- 
main. Mr.  Wade  had  previously  baptized  some 
Karens  there,  and  organized  a  church,  which  was 
now  under  the  charge  of  an  assistant  named  Moung 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUD80N.  211 

Doot.  Eight  more  were  added  on  the  11th  of  the 
month.  The  next  day  Mr.  Judson  removed  a  short 
distance,  to  accommodate  some  converts  who  could 
not  come  to  him,  and  he  had  the  happiness  of  bap- 
tizing five  more.  He  journeyed  two  or  three  days 
longer,  caught  the  jungle  fever,  left  the  scene  on  the 
17th,  and,  returning  to  Maulmain,  was  laid  up  eight 
or  ten  days. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  baptism  was  administered 
to  Moung  Zah,  "  a  pure  Burman  from  that  favored 
district  below  Ava,  which  is  blest  with  the  genuine 
impression,  in  stone,  of  the  foot  of  Gaudama !  "  Two 
weeks  afterward,  the  hundredth  member  united  with 
the  European  church,  all  of  whose  communicants, 
except  the  first  fifteen,  were  baptized  by  Mr.  Kincaid. 
Other  departments  of  the  mission  there  were  being 
blessed.  No  less  than  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
were  baptized  at  Maulmain  in  the  year  1831 .  During 
the  same  period,  five  were  added  to  the  church  in 
Rangoon,  and  seventy-six  in  Tavoy.  Of  the  whole 
number,  eighty-nine  were  foreigners,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  nine  Karens.  The  remaining  nineteen 
were  Talings  and  Burmans.* 

During  most  of  this  time,  Mr.  Bennett  was  indus- 
triously engaged  in  the  printing  ofiice  ;  and  at  least 
two  hundred  thousand  copies  of  books  and  tracts 

*  At  the  close  of  the  year,  Mr.  Judson  made  out  a  table,  exhibiting 
the  number  baptized  in  Burraah  from  the  beginning  of  the  mission, 
eighteen  years  before.  The  total  was  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
three,  of  ■whom  two  hundred  and  sixty  were  natives.  Eleven  had 
been  excluded,  and  the  same  number  had  died. 


212  THE  MISSIONARY  LAB0E8 

had  now  been  scattered  tlirongh  the  realms  of  Buddh- 
ism, and  were  silently  performing  their  mighty  w^ork. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1832,  we  find 
Mr.  Judson  journeying  in  the  jungle,  north  and 
north-east  of  Maulmain.  He  spent  the  first  two 
months  almost  entirely  in  following  the  Salwen,  the 
Da£:ain£:,  and  their  several  tributaries,  in  their  sinuos- 
ities  through  the  wilderness  :  halting,  here  and  there, 
at  little  villages  or  clusters  of  houses ;  collecting  na- 
tive converts,  and  feeding  them  with  the  bread  of 
eternal  life ;  baptizing  such  persons  as  requested  the 
ordinance,  and  were  thought  to  be  proper  subjects ; 
and  pointing  to  the  Lamb  of  God  such  as  expressed 
a  desire  to  behold  him  and  live.  Some  of  the  disci- 
ples accompanied  him,  and  were  accustomed  to  pre- 
cede him  in  arriving  at  a  village,  and  herald  his 
approach  to  such  as  were  interested  in  his  mission. 
Sometimes  he  found  the  inhabitants  of  a  place, 
almost  as  a  body,  ready  to  w^elcome  him,  and  glad  to 
receive  his  message ;  at  other  villages,  he  met  with 
inveterate  opposition,  every  face  being  turned  from 
him  with  frigid  indifference.  During  the  early  part  of 
these  journeyings,  he  selected  the  site  of  a  christian 
village,  on  the  Dagaing,  a  few  miles  below  Wades- 
ville,  and  laid  its  foundation  by  establishing  a  church. 
The  name  given  to  the  place  was  Newville.  About 
four  weeks  afterward,  on  the  4th  of  February,  he 
selected  the  site  for  a  similar  community,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Salwen,  about  sixty  miles  north  of 
Maulmain;  gave  it  the  name  of  Chummerah,  and 
appointed  a  native  disciple  to  officiate  there.    This 


OF  ADONIEAM  JUDSON.  213 

station  was  Tinhealtliy,  and  was  abolished  in  1836,  on 
account  of  the  inhabitants  abandoning  the  place. 

Mr.  Judson  returned  to  Maulmain  on  the  11th 
of  February,  having  been  absent  six  weeks.  Du 
ring  this  time,  he  had  baptized  twenty-five,  and 
"registered  about  the  same  number  of  hopeful 
inquirers." 

The  journal  of  Mr.  Judson  during  these  travels  in 
the  jungle,  abounds  with  interesting  incidents  and 
facts,  strikingly  illustrative  of  the  power  of  truth. 
We  will  repeat  a  single  anecdote,  which  he  recorded 
soon  after  establishing  the  village  of  Kewville,  and 
which  shows  the  happy  results  of  making  tract-dis- 
tributors of  the  natives.  A  man  and  his  wife,  who 
resided  in  the  jungle,  and  had  never  seen  a  foreign 
missionary,  nor  had  an  opportunity  to  be  baptized, 
had  obtained  the  blessed  "  writing  "  and  died  in  the 
faith.  The  husband,  a  short  time  before  his  death, 
requested  his  surviving  friends  to  lay  the  "  Yiew  of 
the  Christian  Religion"  on  his  quieted  breast,  and 
bury  it  with  him. 

About  the  first  of  March,  Mr.  Judson  resolved  to 
make  another  tour  among  the  Karens  on  the  Salwen , 
and  we  conclude  this  chapter  with  some  extract?, 
from  his  joui'nal,  kept  on  the  occasion.  They  prsr 
Bent  a  vivid  picture  of  missionary  life  in  the  jungk 

March  10. —  Went  on  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yer. 
being,  and  as  far  as  the  great  log,  which  prevents  a 
boat  from  proceeding  further.     Providentially,  met 
with  Wah-hai,  of  whom  I  have  heard  a  good  report 


214  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

for  some  time.  He  was  happy  to  see  us,  and  we 
were  liappy  to  examine  and  baptize  liim.  We  then 
visited  the  village,  whence  they  formerly  sent  a  re- 
spectful message  desiring  ns  to  go  about  our  busi- 
ness, and  found  some  attentive  listeners. 

11th.  Lord's  day. —  Again  took  the  main  river, 
and  soon  fell  in  with  a  boat,  containing  several  of  the 
listeners  of  yesterday,  among  whom  was  one  man, 
who  declared  his  resolution  to  enter  the  new  religion. 
We  had  scarcely  parted  with  this  boat,  when  we  met 
another,  full  of  men,  coming  down  the  stream ;  and, 
on  hailing  to  know  whether  they  wished  to  hear  the 
gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  an  elderly  man,  the 
chief  of  the  party,  replied,  that  he  had  already  heard 
much  of  the  gospel,  and  there  was  nothing  he  de- 
sired more,  than  to  have  a  meeting  with  the  teacher. 
Our  boats  were  soon  side  by  side;  where,  after  a 
short  engagement,  the  old  man  struck  his  colors,  and 
begged  us  to  take  him  into  port,  where  he  could 
make  a  proper  surrender  of  himself  to  Christ.  We 
accordingly  went  to  the  shore,  and  spent  several 
hours  very  delightfully,  under  the  shade  of  the  over- 
hanging trees,  and  the  banner  of  the  love  of  Jesus. 
The  old  man's  experience  was  so  clear,  and  his  desire 
for  baptism  so  strong,  that,  though  circumstances 
prevented  our  gaining  so  much  testimony  of  his  good 
conduct,  since  believing,  as  we  usually  require,  we 
felt  that  it  would  be  wrong  to  refuse  his  request.  A 
lad  in  his  company,  the  person  mentioned  January 
30th,  desired  also  to  be  baptized.  But,  though  he 
had  been  a  preacher  to  the  old  man,  his  experience 


OF  ADONIEAM  JTJDSON.  215 

was  not  so  decided  and  satisfactory ;  so  that  we  re- 
jected him  for  the  present.  The  old  man  went  on 
his  way,  rejoicing  aloud,  and  declaring  his  resolution 
to  make  known  the  eternal  God,  and  the  dying  love 
of  Jesus,  on  all  the  banks  of  the  Yoon-za-len,  his 
native  stream. 

The  dying  words  of  an  aged  man  of  God,  when 
he  waved  his  withered,  death-stinick  arm,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  The  hest  of  all  is,  God  is  vjitJi  us,^^  I  feel  / 
in  my  very  soul.  Yes,  the  Great  Invisible  is  in  these  ' 
Karen  wilds.  That  mighty  Being,  who  heaped  up 
these  craggy  rocks,  and  reared  these  stupendous 
mountains,  and  poured  out  these  streams  in  all  direc- 
tions, and  scattered  immortal  beings  throughout 
these  deserts  —  He  is  present,  by  the  influence  of  his 
Holy  Spirit,  and  accompanies  the  sound  of  the  gos- 
pel, with  converting,  sanctifying  power.  "  TTie  hest 
of  all  is,  God  is  with  iisP 

"  In  these  deserts  let  me  labor. 
On  these  mountains  let  me  tell, 
Ho^  he  died  —  the  blessed  Saviour, 
To  redeem  a  world  from  HelL" 

12. — Alas,  how  soon  is  our  joy  turned  into  mourn- 
ing. Mah  E'yah-ban,  of  whom  we  all  had  such  a  ^ 
high  opinion,  joined  her  husband,  not  many  days 
after  their  baptism,  in  making  an  offering  to  the 
demon  of  diseases,  on  account  of  the  sudden,  alarm- 
ing illness  of  their  youngest  child ;  and  they  have 
remained  ever  since  in  an  impenitent,  prayerless 
state !    They  now  refuse  to  listen  to  our  exhortation, 


216  THE   MISSIONARY  LABORS 

and  appear  to  be  given  over  to  hardness  of  heart  and 
blindness  of  mind.  I  was,  therefore,  obliged,  this 
morning,  to  pronounce  the  sentence  of  suspension, 
and  leave  them  to  the  mercy  and  judgment  of  God. 
Their  case  is  greatly  to  be  deplored.  They  are  quite 
alone  in  this  quarter;  have  seen  no  disciples  since 
we  left  them,  and  are  surrounded  with  enemies, 
some  from  Maulmain,  who  have  told  them  all  man- 
ner of  lies,  and  used  every  method  to  procure  and 
perpetuate  their  apostacy.  When  I  consider  the  evi- 
dence of  grace  which  they  formerly  gave,  together 
with  all  the  palliating  circumstances  of  the  case,  I 
have  much  remaining  hope,  that  they  will  yet  be 
brought  to  repentance.  I  commend  them  to  the 
prayers  of  the  faithful,  and  the  notice  of  any  mis- 
sionary who  may  travel  this  way.  In  consequence 
of  the  advantage  which  Satan  has  gained  in  this  vil- 
lage, the  six  hopeful  inquirers  whom  we  left  here 
have  all  fallen  off ;  so  that  we  are  obliged  to  retire 
with  the  dispirited  feelings  of  beaten  troops. 

Returned  down  the  river,  —  reentered  the  Yen- 
being, — had  another  interview  with  the  listeners  of 
yesterday,  —  met  with  a  Taling  doctor  from  Kan- 
hlah,  near  Maulmain,  who  listened  all  the  evening 
with  evident  delight. 

13th. —  Spent  the  day  and  night  at  Zatzan's,  See- 
hais,  and  the  village  of  Laidan,  where  we  failed  of 
finding  Mah  Kee-kah ;  but  found  her  parents,  who 
listened  well.  In  these  parts,  I  leave  a  considerable 
number  of  hopeful  inquirers.    May  the  Lord  bless 


OF  ADONIRAM  JTJDSON.  217 

the  seed  sown,  and  give  ns  the  pleasure  of  reaping  a 
plentiful  harvest  at  no  very  distant  period. 

17th. —  Returned  up  the  river  to  Chummerah.  In 
the  evening,  had  a  considerable  assembly  of  disci- 
ples, preparatory  to  the  administration  of  the  Lord's 
supper. 

18th.  Lord's  day. — Administered  the  Laird's  sup- 
per to  thirty-six  communicants,  chieflv  from  villages 
on  the  Salwen. 


CHAPTEK   XYII. 


Arrival  of  Mr.  Cutter  —  Messrs.  Kincaid  and  Cutter  visit  Ava  —  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wade  sail  for  the  United  States  —  Arrival  of  Messrs.  Brown  and  Webb,  and 
Miss  Harrington  —  Mr.  Judson  completes  ihe  Translation  of  the  Bible  —  Mar- 
ries Mrs.  Boardman  —  Return  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  with  Messrs.  Howard, 
Comstock,  Dean,  and  Osgood,  and  Miss  Gardner  — Mr.  Judson's  Labors  — 
Mr.  Malcom's  Visit  —  Growth  of  the  Churches. 

For  a  year  and  a  half  after  Mr.  Judson's  return 
from  Chummerah,  there  were  but  few  if  any  inci- 
dents connected  with  his  life,  sufficiently  important 
to  be  inserted  in  the  condensed  outline  we  present. 
The  mission  continued  to  prosper,  and  some  import- 
ant changes  took  place  at  the  several  stations,  which 
it  is  proper  to  note. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  Mr.  Bennett  was  joined  by 
Mr.  Oliver  T.  Cutter,  a  printer,  who  took  with  him  a 
power  press.  In  April  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Ben- 
nett began  the  publication  of  the  jN'ew  Testament,  and 
the  last  sheet  of  an  edition  of  three  thousand  cop- 
ies was  printed  on  the  19th  of  December  following. 
Before  the  power  press  could  be  set  in  operation,* 
or  Mr.  Cutter  had  learned  the  language,  he  lost  his 

*  This  press  was  never  of  service  to  the  mission. 


ADONIRAM   JTDSOX.  219 

instructor;  and  about  tliis  time  Mr.  Bennett  was 
obliged  to  remove  temporarily  to  Kangoon  to  supply 
a  vacancy  occasioned  by  tlie  departure  of  Mr.  Kin- 
caid  to  Ava."^  The  latter  gentleman  was  joined  at 
the  capital  in  January,  1834,  by  Mr.  Cutter,  who 
took  with  him  a  printing  press. 

Immediately  after  a  very  profitable  journey  among 
the  Karens  in  the  Tenasserim  provinces,  made  in  the 
months  of  January  and  Febmary,  1832,  Mr.  Wade 
repaired  to  Maulmain  for  his  physical  benefit.  He 
there  performed  some  important  literary  labor,  mak- 
ing an  alphabet  and  prej)aring  a  sj)elling  book  in 
the  Karen  tongue,  and  also  translating  Mrs.  Judson's 
Burman  Catechism  and  the  precepts  comprised  in 
the  "  View  of  the  Christian  Eeligion."    Having  done 


*  He  left  Rangoon  on  the  6th  of  April,  1833,  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Kincaid  and  her  sister,  and  three  native  assistants,  carrying  with 
him  seventeen  thousand  tracts  and  a  large  number  of  copies  of  the 
Gospels  of  Luke  and  John,  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  the 
Epistles.  Their  passage  up  the  Irrawaddy  was  beset  "with  dangers, 
yet  marked  by  many  occurrences  of  great  interest,  illustrative  of  the 
singular  spirit  of  inquiry  which,  in  spite  of  dread  either  of  the  gov- 
ernment or  the  priesthood,  seemed  every  where  to  pervade  the  minds 
of  the  people.  They  landed  at  nearly  three  hundred  towns  and  vil- 
lages along  the  banks  of  the  stream,  and,  in  nearly  every  place  which 
they  visited,  they  found  some  traces  of  the  influence  which  had  been 
exerted  by  the  native  christians,  by  tracts  and  books,  or  other  agen- 
cies connected  with  the  mission. —  Gammell's  History  of  Amekican 
Baptist  Missions.  t 

Mr.  Kincaid  and  the  missionaries  who  had  joined  him  at  Ava, 
were  driven  out  of  the  empire  in  1837,  by  civil  war,  occasioned  by 
the  usurpation  of  the  throne  by  a  cruel  and  despotic  prince  named 
Tharawaddy, 


220  THE   MISSIONAET   LABOBS 

thus  much  for  the  Karens,  he  was  attacked  very  se- 
verely with  the  liver  complaint,  which  had  contin- 
ued to  trouble  him  at  times;  and  as  medicine  had 
proved  ineffectual,  he  resolved  to  try  the  experiment 
of  a  change  of  climate.  Accordingly,  he  set  sail  for 
the  United  States  the  last  of  August,  and  arrived  in 
this  country  the  following  May.  His  wife  and  two 
native  converts  accompanied  him. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1832,  the  ship  Fenelon  sailed 
from  Boston  freighted  with  four  bearers  of  light  to 
the  benighted ;  Eev.  Thomas  Simons,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Royal  B.  Hancock,  and  Miss  Sarah  Cummings. 
They  arrived  at  Maulmain  on  the  first  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1833.  Mr.  Simons  was  stationed  there  as  a 
preacher,  and,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  is  still 
permitted,  like  Messrs.  Wade  and  Kincaid,  and  some 
other  early  missionaries,  to  invite  the  destitute  and 
perishing  to  "  buy  wine  and  milk  without  money, 
and  without  price."  Mr.  Hancock,  who  was  a  printer 
and  stereotyper,  took  with  him  two  presses,  a  large 
quantity  of  type,  and  the  materials  for  a  type  foun- 
dry. A  spacious  and  substantial  printing  establish- 
ment was  soon  erected  at  Maulmain,  where  it  still 
stands,  and,  by  the  thunderings  of  its  presses,  is 
shaking  the  pagodas  of  south-eastern  Asia. 

Miss  Cummings  was  an  experienced  teacher,  and 
taking  with  her  a  Burman  who  was  to  assist  her  in 
acquiring  the  language,  she  hastened  to  the  new,  se- 
cluded, and  unhealthy  station  at  Chummerah,  where 
she  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  her  studies,  and  in 
superintending  a  school;  she  then  caught  the  jungle 


OF   ADOIHRAM   JUDSON.  ^1 

fever,  and,  returning  to  Maulmain,  closed  lier  eyes  in 
death,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1834. 
^In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1833,  the 
mission  was  again  reinforced,  by  the  arrival  of 
Eev.  Messrs.  Nathan  Brown  and  Abner  Webb,  their 
wives,  and  Miss  C.  J.  Harrington.  Tlie  last  was 
afterward  married  to  Mr.  Simons.  Messrs.  Brown 
and  Webb  studied  the  language  at  Maulmain,  until 
the  following  January,  when  they  removed  to  Ran- 
goon. Mr.  Bennett  then  returned  to  Maulmain. 
About  two  years  afterward,  Mr.  Brown,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Cutter,  went  to  Assam,  where  both  are  now 
toiling. 

During  the  interval  between  the  spring  of  1832 
and  the  beginning  of  the  year  1834,  Mr.  Judson  re- 
mained almost  constantly  at  Maulmain,  and  devoted 
the  major  portion  of  his  time  to  translating  the  Old 
Testament.  And  at  length  the  great  work  was  com- 
pleted ;  the  Burmans  had  the  w^hole  Bible  in  their 
own  language.  Tlie  last  page  was  written  on  the 
last  day  of  January,  1834.  Mr.  Judson  had  prose- 
cuted this  gigantic  labor  amid  "the  changes  of 
many  years,  often  in  solitude,  in  sickness,  and  in  sor- 
row ;  and  now  that  it  was  completed,  he  dedicated  it 
with  pious  gratitude,  and  an  humble  sense  of  its 
imperfections,  to  the  service  and  the  glory  of  God. 
The  scene,  as  incidentally  mentioned  in  his  journal, 
is  one  of  affecting  interest  and  grandeur.  Poets, 
historians,  and  moralists,  have  all  recorded  the  feel- 
ings of  exultation  with  which  they  have  completed 
some  work  which  they  imagined  '  the  world  would 


2^2  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

not  willingly  let  die.'  But  the  missionary  retires 
alone,  and  with  the  last  leaf  of  his  imperishable 
work  in  his  hand,  he  prays  for  the  forgiveness  of 
Heaven  on  all  the  sins  that  have  mingled  with  his 
labors,  and  devoutly  commends  it  to  the  mercy  and 
grace  of  God,  to  be  used  as  an  instrument  in  con- 
verting the  heathen  to  Himself.  Thus  was  the 
greatest  of  blessings  conferred  on  the  people  of  Bur- 
|mah,  and  in  its  uncultivated  soil  was  planted  the 
tree  of  life,  whose  perennial  leaves  shall  be  for  the 
•healing:  of  the  nation.  The  translation  received  the 
I'iemendations  and  corrections  of  its  author,  and  has 
been  pronounced  by  scholars  and  philologists  ac- 
quainted with  the  Burman  tongue,  to  be  unusually 
accurate  and  perfect, —  well  fitted  to  transmit  to  suc- 
cessive generations  the  unadulterated  word  of  God. 
The  entire  Bible  was  put  immediately  to  press,  and 
handsome  appropriations  were  made  by  the  Ameri- 
can Bible  Society,  to  aid  its  publication." — Gam- 
mell's  History  of  American  Baptist  Missions. 

In  an  eloquent  discourse  on  the  life  and  character 

of  Mr.  Judson,  delivered  in  Boston,  at  the  annual 

meeting  of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union, 

in  May,  1851,  Rev.  William  Hague  expresses  the 

opinion  that,  "if,  in  a  coming  age,  some  Allston 

should  wish  to  employ  his  pencil  in  picturing  forth 

a  single  action  that  should  express  at  once  the  great 

h  aim,  the  chosen  means,  and  the  true  spirit  of  the 

/]  modem  missionary  enterprise,  he  could  scarcely  se- 

/ '  lect  a  more  fitting  scene  than  that  which  Heaven 

witnessed  with  a  smile,  when  Adoniram  Judson  was 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  228 

seen  kneeling  by  the  side  of  that  table  over  which 
he  had  long  bent  his  frame  in  studious  application, 
holding  in  his  hand  the  last  leaf  of  the  Burman 
Bible,  with  his  eyes  uplifted,  and  with  a  countenance 
radiant  wdth  joy,  thanking  God  that  his  life  had 
been  spared  to  achieve  this  work,  and  imploring  the 
Divine  Spirit  to  make  the  silent  page  a  messenger 
of  life  to  many." 

Before  finishing  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures, 
Mr.  Judson  again  visited  the  church  at  Chummerah, 
where  he  spent  a  few  months,  instructing  its  mem- 
bers and  counseling  inquirers  ;  and  in  March,  1834, 
we  find  him  at  Newville,  on  a  similar  errand : 

"March  12. —  I  have  spent  a  few  days  in  this 
place,  where,  on  my  arrival,  I  found  the  church  con- 
sisting of  twenty-five  members  only ;  several  having 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Chummerah  church ; 
which,  though  of  later  origin,  is  now  five  or  six  times 
larger  than  the  Newville.  Day  before  yesterday, 
and  to-day,  nine  new  members  have  been  received 
at  this  place,  and  there  are  five  or  six  others,  with 
whom  I  feel  satisfied ;  but,  for  various  reasons,  their 
baptism  has  been  deferred.  In  the  number  received, 
the  most  noticeable  case  is  that  of  Lausau  and  wife. 
He  is  a  petty  chief,  and  possesses  more  personal  in- 
fluence than  any  Karen  yet  baptized  in  these  parts. 
He  has  been  considerino^  the  christian  religion,  with 
approbation,  for  three  years,  but  has  had  great  difii- 
culties  to  encounter,  resulting  from  his  family  con- 
nections, and  from  his  inveterate  habit  of  temperate 


224:  THE   MISSIONAET    LABOES 

drinking.  Until  the  present  time,  lie  could  never 
resolve  on  adopting  the  principle  of  entire  ab- 
stinence; but  I  trust  that  conviction  of  truth,  and 
love  of  the  Saviour,  have  enabled  him  to  gain  the 
victory. 

16. — On  leaving  Newville,  it  was  my  intention 
to  go  up  the  Fatah  river ;  but,  not  finding  sufiicient 
water  this  season,  I  turned  into  the  Houng-tarau ; 
and,  having  visited  a  village,  where  there  are  several 
inquirers,  returned  to  Maulmain." 

Soon  after  this  date,  he  went  to  Tavoy,  and  was 
there  married  to  Mrs.  Boardman,  on  the  10th  of 
April. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mr.  Judson's  second  wife 
was  Hall.  She  was  born  in  Alstead,  New  Hamp- 
shire, ISTovember  4th,  1803.  While  she  was  quite 
young,  her  parents  removed  to  Danvers,  Massachu- 
setts, and  ere  long  to  Salem,  in  the  same  state.  In 
this  place  she  received  her  education,  and  gave  her 
hand  to  Mr.  Boardman.  This  event  occurred  on  the 
4th  of  July,  1825,  in  which  month  they  sailed  for 
Bm-mah. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Boardman,  she  continued 
to  conduct  a  school  at  Tavoy,  and  was  remarkably 
successful  in  this  sphere.  Not  unfrequently  she 
made  tours  in  remote  rural  sections  of  the  province, 
taking  with  her  an  infant  son,  who  was  carried  by 
her  followers.  Cheered  by  his  musical  prattle,  she 
forded  small  streams,  traversed  broad  marshes,  urged 
her  way  through  "wild  mountain  passes  "  and  among 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  225 

'*  CI  'dggj  rocks  and  tangled  slirnbs  of  the  jungle  ;  " 
and,  in  innumerable  ways,  exhibited  a  degree  of  per- 
severance, energy,  and  boldness,  second  only  to  her's 
who  stood  many  long  months  at  the  door  of  the 
death-prison  in  Ava,  and  followed  her  husband  on 
his  "  blood-tracked  march "  to  the  gloomy  cells  of 
Oung-pen-la. 

The  school  which  Mrs.  Judson  had  conducted  at 
Tavoy,  and  which  was  suspended  on  her  removal  to 
Maulmain,  was  reorganized  by  Mrs.  Wade  on  her 
return  from  America. 

Mr.  Wade  and  his  industrious,  self-sacrificing  com- 
panion, reentered  the  field  in  December,  1834,  bring- 
ing with  them  eleven  co-workers  —  Rev.  Messrs. 
Hosea  Howard,  Grover  S.  Comstock,  William  Dean, 
Justus  H.  Yinton,  and  Mr.  Sewall  M.  Osgood,  with 
their  wives,  and  Miss  Ann  P.  Gardner.  The  last  was 
a  member  of  Mr.  Wade's  family,  and  was  connected 
with  the  Tavoy  mission.  In  1837,  she  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Eev.  E.  L.  Abbott,  who  had  been 
appointed  a  missionary  two  years  previous,  and  who 
has  been  toiling  for  years  among  the  Sgau  Karens, 
l^'i  station  being  at  Sandoway.  Mr.  Osgood  was  a 
pri Titer,  and  took  up  his  abode  at  Maulmain.  Mr. 
Vinton  spent  a  brief  season  at  Clmmmerah,  just  be- 
fore its  desertion ;  and  in  1836  we  find  him  stationed 
at  Balu  Island,  with  I^ewville,  Chetthingsville,  and 
Bootah,  for  out-stations.  Mr.  Dean  went,  at  first,  to 
Siam  ;  and  at  Hongkong,  China,  is  now,  with  some 
of  his  coadjutors,  showing  that,  intellectually,  there 
are  "giants"  in  these  days.     Mr.  Comstock  settled  at 


226  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

Kjouk  Plijoo,  and  died  at  Akyab  in  1844.  Mr. 
Howard  went  to  Rangoon. 

With  the  mission  tlms  strengthened,  well  might 
Mr.  Judson  rejoice !  "  My  heart,"  he  writes,  "  leaps 
for  joy,  and  swells  with  gratitude  and  praise  to  God, 
when  I  think  of  brother  Jones  at  Bankok,  in  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  continent,  and  brother 
Brown  at  Sudiya,  in  Assam,  on  the  frontiers  of 
China  —  immensely  distant  points — and  of  all  the 
intervening  stations,  Ava,  Rangoon,  Kyouk  Phyoo, 
Maulmain,  and  Tavoy,  and  the  churches  and  schools 
which  are  springing  up  in  every  station  and  through- 
out the  Karen  wilderness.  Happy  lot,  to  live  in 
these  days !  O  happy  lot,  to  be  allowed  to  bear  a 
part  in  the  glorious  work  of  bringing  an  apostate 
world  to  the  feet  of  Jesus !  Glory,  glory  be  to 
God!" 

After  translating  the  Bible,  Mr.  Judson  devoted  a 
large  portion  of  his  time,  for  four  or  five  years,  to  its 
revision,  giving  to  this  division  of  the  labor  more 
days  than  to  translating.  The  last  page  of  the  first 
edition  of  the  Old  Testament  was  printed  on  the  29th 
of  December,  1835. 

Aside  from  the  task  of  revising,  Mr.  Judson  was 
accustomed  to  read  the  proof  sheets  of  the  Scriptures, 
tracts,  and  other  works,  as  they  went  to  press ;  to 
spend  some  hours  each  forenoon  at  the  zayat ;  to  hold 
morning  prayer  meetings,  with  native  assistants, 
whom  he  privately  instructed  from  day  to  day,  and 
then  sent  out  to  itinerate  in  the  city,  and  in  adjacent 
villages ;  and  to  perform  many  other  duties,  which 


OF    ADONIEAM    JUDSON.  227 

absorbed   no   inconsiderable   part   of  his  time,  but 
which  it  might  be  deemed  needless  to  detail. 

In  the  early  part  of  1836,  the  missionaries  were 
visited  by  Rev.  Howard  Malcom,  now  president 
of  Lewisburg  University.  He  had  been  sent  out 
by  direction  of  the  Board  of  Managers,  to  survey 
the  mission  field  in  Asia ;  learn  the  condition  and 
vrants  of  the  several  stations,  and  to  consult  with  the 
missionaries  in  regard  to  the  general  interests  of  the 
cause  in  those  parts.  Fourteen  missionaries  accom- 
panied him.  They  were  Eev.  Messrs.  Lovell  Ingalls, 
James  M.  Haswell,  Alanson  Reed,  John  L.  Shuck, 
Robert  D.  Davenport,  (printer,)  Samuel  S.  Day,  and 
their  wives.  Rev.  Elisha  L.  Abbott,  and  Miss  Eleanor 
Macomber.  They  were  designated  to  the  several 
missions  in  Asia. 

A  ministerial  conference  was  held  at  Maulmain, 
commencing  on  the  30th  of  March,  five  or  six  weeks 
after  Mr.  Malcom's  arrival.  The  missionaries  pres- 
ent were  Messrs.  Judson,  Wade,  Bennett,  Kincaid, 
Hancock,  Mason,  Yinton,  Osgood,  Howard,  Haswell, 
Webb,  and  Abbott.  ''  Every  day,  except  the  Sab- 
bath," writes  Mr.  Malcom,  "  was  diligently  spent  in 
the  business,  and,  beside  many  important  topics, 
which,  though  fully  discussed,  did  not  come  to  a 
formal  vote,  the  following  subjects  were  acted  upon, 
besides  minor  ones :  The  establishment  of  a  seminary 
for  native  assistants ;  its  location,  temporary  precep- 
tor, and  course  of  studies,  and  by-laws ;  new  fields 
of  labor  proposed  and  described ;  native  schools ; 
polygamy  among  natives,  and  the  management  of 


228  THE   MISSIOXAllY    LABORS 

such  case8  in  regard  to  applicants  for  ba23tism ;  re- 
ducing the  size  of  the  Bunnan  character ;  the  plan 
of  giving  English  names  to  native  children;  board- 
ing schools,  and  the  best  mode  of  their  endowment. 
Considerable  time  was  taken  up  in  designating  the 
new  missionaries  to  their  fields  of  labor.  They 
seem  to  be  as  jewels,  which  each  was  anxious  to 
seize.  Every  man  felt  keenly  the  claims  of  his 
station  or  neighborhood,  and  longed  to  see  more  la- 
borers in  what  he  deemed  so  promising  a  field.  It 
was  a  noble  strife  of  disinterested  love,  and,  so  small 
was  the  reinforcement,  compared  w^th  the  admitted 
wants,  on  all  sides,  that  it  was  difficult  to  decide 
where  aid  should  first  be  sent. 

"The  next  Sabbath,  being  the  first  in  April,  I 
preached  to  the  brethren  and  sisters,  by  vote  of  the 
convocation.  We  met  in  the  new  and  unfinished 
chapel,  built  for  the  native  church.  The  building, 
though  large  for  Burmah,  is  scarcely  larger  than 
many  dining-rooms  in  India ;  yet,  as  our  little  band 
arranojed  themselves  in  one  corner,  we  seemed  lost 
in  the  space.  There  was,  however,  moral  power  in 
the  meeting ;  and,  when  I  reflected  on  the  recent 
origin  of  the  mission,  its  small  beginnings,  and  its 
various  dangers  and  hindrances,  the  company  before  , 
me  was  a  most  refreshing  sight.  Here  were  twelve  // 
missionaries,  besides  Misses  Gardner  and  Macomber, 
and  the  missionaries'  wives.  Elsewhere  in  the  mis- 
sion were  four  evangelists  and  a  printer,  not  comput- 
ing those  in  Siam.  The  text  was,  '  Glorify  ye  the 
Lord  in  the  fires  ;'  and  every  heart  seemed  to  say 


OP   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  229 

Amen,  as  sentence  after  sentence  came  forth.  It  is 
delightful,  preaching  to  greedy  listeners  ;  and  long 
had  most  of  these  been  deprived  of  the  refreshment 
of  sitting  under  a  gospel  sermon.  Mr.  Judson  had 
not  heard  a  sermon  in  English  for  fourteen  years. 

"As  my  eye  rested  on  this  loved  little  company,  it 
was  sweet  to  contemplate  the  venerable  founder  of  the 
mission,  sitting  there  to  rejoice  in  the  growth  of  the 
cause  he  had  so  assiduously  and  painfully  sustained. 
His  labors  and  suiferings  for  years ;  his  mastery  of 
the  language ;  his  translation  of  the  whole  Word  of 
God ;  and  his  being  permitted  now  to  be  the  pastor 
of  a  church  containing  over  a  hundred  natives,- 
make  him  the  most  interesting  missionary  now 
alive.  What  a  mercy  that  he  yet  lives  to  devote 
to  this  people  his  enlarged  powers  of  doing  good ! 
And  we  may  hope  he  will  very  long  be  spared.  His 
age  is  but  forty-seven ;  his  eye  is  not  dim  ;  not  a 
gray  hair  shows  itself  among  his  full  auburn  locks  ; 
his  moderate-sized  person  seems  full  of  vigor;  he 
walks  almost  every  evening  a  mile  or  two  at  a  quick 
pace,  lives  with  entire  temperance  and  regularity, 
and  enjoys,  in  general,  steadfast  health.  May  a 
gracious  God  continue  to  make  him  a  blessing  more 
and  more." 

About  this  period,  the  missionaries  in  British  Bur- 
mah  and  Burmah  Proper,  were  organized  into  four 
separate  communities,  designated  the  Maulmain, 
Rangoon,  Tavoy,  and  Ava  missions,  each  mission 
having  one  or  more  stations  and  out-stations  con- 
nected with  it.    This  step  was  taken  for  the  more 


230  MISSIONAKY    LABORS. 

convenient  associate  action  of  the  increasing  band  of 
missionaries. 

The  progress  of  truth  in  Burmah  at  this  time,  may 
be  seen  at  a  glance,  by  reference  to  the  reported  bap- 
tisms !  The  whole  number  thus  added  to  the  several 
churches,  in  1836,  was  three  hundred  and  fifty-eight ; 
two  hundred  and  six  at  the  Rangoon  mission,  ninety- 
one  at  the  Tavoy,  fifty-four  at  the  Maulmain,  and 
seven  at  the  Ava.  The  increase  of  the  Maulmain 
churches  the  following  year  was  nearly  twice  as 
great. 

Associated  with  Mr.  Judson  at  Maulmain,  in  the 
beginning  of  1838,  were  Messrs.  Hancock  and 
Osgood,  five  native  preachers,  and  about  thirty 
assistants,  including  twenty-five  in  the  printing 
department. 

Mr.  Bennett  had  removed  to  Tavoy,  where  he  is 
still  laboring,  his  department  being  among  the  Sgau 
Karens.  He  and  Mr.  Osgood,  and  some  of  the  other 
printers,  were  early  empowered  to  preach,  often 
using  their  gifts  profitably  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 


CHAPTEK   XYIII. 


Retrospect  of  Mr.  Judson's  Career  —  Review  of  the  Progress  of  Baptist  Mia 
sions  —  Illness  of  Mr.  Judson,  Voyage  to  Calcutta  and  Return  —  Maulmaii 
Theological  Seminary,  and  other  Schools  —  Revised  Edition  of  the  Burman 
Bible  —  Rangoon  abandoned  by  the  Missionaries  —  The  Judson  Family  visiv 
Calcutta  and  Serampore  —  Loss  of  a  Member —  The  Survivors  proceed  to  the 
Isle  of  France  — Return  to  Maulmaiu. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  had  now  elapsed  since  Mr. 
Judson  first  landed  at  Eangoon,  and  looked  upon 
its  multitudinous  pagodas  and  other  painM  indices 
of  the  superstition  of  Burmah ;  and,  without  the 
ability  to  utter  a  sentence  in  the  language  of  the 
people,  began,  single  handed  and  unequipped,  to 
prepare,  and  then  to  apply  the  agencies  by  which 
he  hoped,  eventually,  to  see  the  foundation  of 
those  monuments  of  idolatry  loosened  and  under- 
mined. With  the  eye  of  faith  steadily  fixed  on  the 
divine  commission,  he  commenced  the  work ;  and, 
although  nearly  six  years  passed  before  he  saw  the 
clouds  of  paganism  dispelled  from_  a  single  mind,  he 
neither  fainted  nor  faltered.'^  Feeling  that  he  had  an 
injunction  from  Heaven  to  toil  for  the  good  of  the 
heathen,  nothing  could  quench  his   love   for  their 


/ 

/ 


232  THE    MISSIONARY    LABOES 

souls,  nothing  could  drive  from  him  the  high  purpose 
to  win  them  to  Christ.  He  had  been  expelled  from 
one  country  by  the  intolerance  of  a  jurisdiction 
nominally  christian ;  had  been  imprisoned  in  another 
by  the  same  spirit,  coupled  with  ignorance  of  the 
governmental  relations  of  western  nations  ;  had  been 
exposed  to  perils,  by  sea  and  by  land ;  had  passed  a 
year  and  a  half  in  chains,  and  part  of  this  time  in 
one  of  the  gloomiest  and  most  filthy  death-prisons  on 
the  globe ;  and  had  laid  in  the  grave  the  last  member 
of  the  little  family  that  had  participated  with  him 
in  sufiering  and  sorrow,  at  Oung-pen-la.  But,  how- 
ever deep  his  afflictions  ;  however  great  his  dan- 
gers ;  however  hard  the  gripe  of  intolerance  and 
persecution  ;  his  great  spirit  bore  all,  with  a  pa- 
tience and  fortitude  that  drew  exhaustless  nour- 
ishment from  the  stores  of  sovereign  grace.  From 
out  the  ocean  of  grief,  he  rose  with  his  heart 
subdued  and  his  soul  more  sanctified;  he  escaped 
from  death  with  increased  confidence  in  God, 
and  better  prepared  to  face  other  dangers ;  and 
when  divine  Providence  saw  fit  to  shake  off  his 
chains,  he  renewedly  dedicated  his  unshackled  limbs 
to  the  service  of  missions,  and  resumed  his  labors 
with  redoubled  industry  and  almost  superhuman 
zeal. 

Amid  these  disheartening  circumstances,  and  a 
multitude  of  retarding  influences,  the  glorious  en- 
terprise on  which  he  entered  Burmah  unbefriended 
and  alone,  though  fluctuating  at  times,  had  made 
inspiring  progress.    He,  who  stood  on  the  shores  of 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUDSOM".  233 

the  empire  twenty-five  years  before,  speechless  in  the 
Burman  tongue,  and  without  a  grammar  or  diction- 
ary to  aid  him,  had  become  an  eloquent  preacher  in 
the  language  of  ten  millions  of  heathen ;  had  given 
the  votaries  of  Gaudama  a  faithful  transcript  of  the 
word  of  the  true  God  in  their  peculiar  dialect ;  had 
plunged  into  the  jungle,  reached  the  heart  of  the 
Bui-man  dynasty,  and  scattered  the  seeds  of  truth 
around  the  golden  foot;  had  personally  organized 
little  churches  here  and  there,  beneath  the  shadow 
of  some  towering  pagoda;  was  rejoicing  with  the 
sweet  assm-ance  that  the  arches  of  heaven  had  i-ung 
more  than  a  thousand  times  over  the  convei'sion  of 
a  soul  to  God,  at  some  one  of  the  stations  or  out- 
stations  which  he  had  seen  established ;  was  associ- 
ated with  nearly  fifty  missionaries  from  his  native 
land,  together  with  a  multitude  of  native  assistants  ; 
and  was  now  beholding  scattered  annually  through 
the  realms  of  Buddhism  more  than  ten  million  pages 
of  that  Book,  "  whose  leaves  are  for  the  healing  of 
the  nations." 

Nor  were  the  changes  that  had  taken  place  in  hea- 
then lands,  or  among  the  heathen  tribes  and  errorists 
of  christian  lands,  through  the  exertions  of  American 
Baptists,  confined  to  Asia.  He,  who  wrote  from  In- 
dia to  his  unknown  "  Baptist  friends  in  the  United 
States,"  asking  them  for  support  before  they  had 
organized  a  society  for  promoting  foreign  missions, 
could  now  look  over  the  globe  and  behold  stations 
under  the  control  and  sustained  by  the  contributions 
of  his  denomination,  not  only  among  the  Burmese, 


234  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

the  Siamese,  the  Chinese,  the  Karens,  the  Assamese, 
the  Teloogoos,  and  other  people  of  Asia  —  but  at  Li- 
beria, in  Africa ;  in  Germany,  Greece,  and  France, 
in  Europe ;  at  Hayti,  in  the  West  India  Islands,  and 
among  twelve  Indian  tribes  in  the  United  States. 
'Kve  missionary  society,  which  was  organized  in 
18\i,  to  recognize  him  and  his  companion  as  mis- 
sioB^ries  to  Burmah,  was  now  supporting  twenty- 
threvi  missions,  embracing  thirty-seven  stations  and 
thirt  7-two  out-stations.  Connected  with  these  mis- 
sioiiy*  were  ninety-eight  American  missionaries,  in- 
cludivig  printers  and  female  teachers ;  thirty-eight 
nativo  preachers,  and  nearly  as  many  native  assist- 
ants, exclusive  of  those  in  the  printing  department; 
tliirt\ -eight  churches;  between  fifteen  and  sixteen 
hundred  communicants,  and  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
presses,  which  were  printing  the  word  of  God  in 
fifteen  different  languages. 

Early  in  1838,  Mr.  Judson  was  afflicted  with  an 
inflammation  of  the  throat  and  lungs,  wdiich  troubled 
him  several  months;  and  laboring  under  indisposi- 
tion from  the  same  cause,  in  the  spring  of  1839,  he 
took  a  sea  voyage,  hoping  thereby  to  receive  benefit. 
He  sailed  for  Calcutta,  and  was  so  much  relieved 
before  arriving  there,  that  he  made  a  very  brief  so- 
journ. He  was  doubtless  too  impatient  to  be  about 
]iis  Master's  business  at  Maulmain;  for,  when  he 
returned,  in  April,  his  friends  could  see  but  little 
improvement  in  his' health.  On  hearing  of  his  ill- 
ness, the  Board  invited  him,  as  they  had  done  once 
f  r  tw'^^  before,  to  visit  the  United  States,      The 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSOX.  235 

invitation  readied  liim  in  August,  1839,  at  which 
time  his  complaint  was  in  a  relapse,  and  he  was 
suffering  very  much.  Under  this  circumstance,  one 
'would  suppose  he  could  have  been  induced  to  leave 
the  field  long  enough  to  visit  the  land  of  his  birth ; 
but  he  declined  the  invitation,  saying  to  the  Board, 
"  I  cannot  persuade  myself  that  it  is  my  duty  to 
leave  my  work  at  present,  but  to  wait  and  see 
whether  I  shall  well  sustain  the  next  rainy  season. 
If,  notwithstanding  continued  care,  I  should  experi- 
ence a  severe  relapse,  and  my  brethren  should  con- 
cur in  the  measure,  I  would  avail  myself  of  the 
invitation  of  the  Board,  as  a  last  resort,  and  turn 
my  face,  with  a  clear  conscience  and  many  delight- 
ful anticipations  toward  my  native  land." 

In  1838,  a  seminary  was  established  at  Maulmain, 
for  educating  native  converts  of  promising  talents 
and  suitable  character,  for  the  ministry,  and  Rev. 
Edward  A.  Stevens,  who  had  been  appointed  a  mis- 
sionary two  years  previous,  took  charge  of  it.  He 
had  been  educated  with  direct  reference  to  the  duties 
of  a  theological  teacher.  Among  his  first  pupils 
were  a  few  Burman  students,  who  had  been  con- 
nected with  a  similar  institution  established  by  Mr. 
Wade  at  Tavoy,  soon  after  the  session  of  the  minis- 
terial convention  at  Maulmain,  in  1836.  The  school 
at  Tavoy,  which  was  suspended  in  1837,  on  account 
of  Mr.  Wade's  illness,  contained  Burmans,  Karens, 
Peguans,  and  one  Hindoo,  in  all  about  eighteen  or 
twenty  pupils.  The  one  at  Maulmain  was  designed 
especially  for  the  first-mentioned  class,  though  others 


236  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

were  at  first  admitted.  A  distinct  Karen  theologi- 
cal seminary  was  subsequently  established  there.  It 
was  necessary  to  have  separate  schools  as  soon  as 
facilities  could  be  obtained,  on  account  of  the  differ- 
ence of  the  races  above  mentioned.  Hence,  at  this 
period,  we  find,  at  the  dififerent  and  most  important 
Burman  stations,  schools  of  various  names  and  grades, 
not  only  for  Burmans,  Talings,  and  Karens,  but  also 
for  the  Eurasians  or  half-cast,  having  European 
fathers.  In  1840,  there  were  no  less  than  eleven 
schools  in  operation,  in  connection  with  the  Maul- 
main  mission,  which  embraced  six  stations  and  three 
out-stations.  During  the  early  part  of  this  year,  the 
theological  school  contained  ten  pupils,  which  was 
about  an  average  attendance  for  the  first  two  or  three 
years.  Some  idea  of  the  kind  of  studies,  and  the 
method  of  teaching,  may  be  gathered  from  a  brief 
extract  from  the  report  of  the  school  for  the  term 
ending  in  November,  1840  : 

''  The  studies  pursued  have  been  chiefly  the  l^ew 
Testament,  and  a  brief  outline  of  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory, given  in  the  form  of  lectures.  In  the  'New 
Testament,  the  class  has  completed  the  Life  of  Christ, 
having  gone  through  the  thirty-five  last  sections  of 
the  work,  together  with  the  Epistles  of  Hebrews, 
James,  first  and  second  of  Peter,  first,  second,  and 
third  of  John,  and  the  Epistle  of  Jude.  The  method 
of  study  has  been  the  same  as  that  heretofore 
pursued  —  explanatory   remarks    being   made,   and 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  237 

passages  of  Scripture  given  for  reference,  all  which 
are  required  to  be  coniuiitted  to  writing. 

"The  lectures  on  ecclesiastical  history  embraced  a 
brief  outline  of  the  history  of  the  church  from  the 
birth  of  Christ  to  the  present  time.  The  class  were 
required  to  note  them  down  as  delivered,  and,  since 
the  course  was  completed,  have  been  occupied  a  part 
of  each  day  in  studying  what  they  had  thus  written. 
The  subject  being  one  of  novelty  to  them,  and  much 
time  being  necessarily  occupied  in  securing  a  fair 
and  correct  copy  of  the  lectures,  they  have  studied 
the  history  only  as  far  as  the  account  of  Mahomet. 
They  seemed  interested  in  the  study,  and  I  trust  the 
time  devoted  to  it  has  not  been  misapplied.'* 

Owing  to  the  want  of  funds,  and  other  causes,  this 
institution  did  not  prosper  so  well  as  the  missionaries 
had  hoped  it  would,  and  was  suspended  from  the 
close  of  the  next  year  until  1844. 

Mr.  Judson  completed  the  revision  of  the  Burman 
Bible  in  the  autumn  of  1840,  and  the  last  sheet  was 
put  to  press  on  the  24th  of  October.  The  first  edi- 
tion had  been  printed  in  three  large  octavo  volumes  ; 
the  second  appeared  in  one  volume  quarto.  In  order 
to  make  the  latter  as  correct  as  possible,  he  had  con- 
sulted the  latest  and  most  reliable  works  of  biblical 
critics,  and  selected  and  incorporated  the  richest 
fruits  of  philological  minds,  in  Europe  and  America. 
He  says,  in  regard  to  this  edition  ; 

"  In  the  first  edition  of  the  Old  Testament,  I  paid 
too  much  regard  to  the  critical  emendations  of  Lowiih, 


238  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

Horslej,  and  others.  In  the  present  edition,  I  have 
adhered  more  strictly  to  the  Hebrew  text.  In  my 
•first  attempts  at  translating  portions  of  the  ISTew 
Testament,  above  twenty  years  ago,  I  followed  Gries- 
bach,  as  all  the  world  then  did ;  and  thongh,  from 
year  to  year,  I  have  fonnd  reason  to  distrust  his 
authority,  still,  not  wishing  to  be  ever  changing,  I 
deviated  but  little  from  his  text,  in  subsequent  edi- 
tions, until  the  last ;  in  preparing  which  I  have  fol- 
lowed the  text  of  Knapp,  (though  not  implicitly,)  as 
upon  the  whole  the  safest  and  best  extant ;  in  con- 
sequence of  which,  the  present  Burmese  version  of 
the  Kew  Testament  accords  more  nearly  with  the 
received  English. 

"  As  to  the  merits  of  the  translation,  I  must  leave 
others  to  judge.  I  can  only  say,  that  though  I  have 
seldom  done  anything  to  my  own  satisfaction,  I  am 
better  satisfied  with  the  translation  of  the  'New  Tes- 
tament than  I  ever  expected  to  be.  The  language 
is,  I  believe,  simple,  plain,  intelligible ;  and  I  have 
endeavored,  I  hope  successfully,  to  make  every  sen- 
tence a  iiiithful  representation  of  the  original.  As 
to  the  Old  Testament,  I  am  not  so  well  satisfied. 
The  historical  books  are,  perhaps,  done  pretty  well ; 
but  the  poetical  and  prophetical  books  are,  doubtless, 
susceptible  of  much  improvement,  not  merely  in 
point  of  style,  but  in  the  rendering  of  difficult  pas- 
sages, about  which  the  most  eminent  scholars  are  not 
yet  agreed. 

"  I  commend  the  work,  such  as  it  is,  to  God,  to 
the  church  in  Burmah,  and  to  my  successors  in  this 


OF  ADONIR.^J  JUDSOX.  239 

department  of  labor,  begging  them  not  to  spare  my 
errors,  and  yet  not  prematurely  to  correct  a  supposed 
error,  without  consulting  the  various  authors  which 
I  have  consulted,  and  ascertaining  the  reasons  of  my 
position ;  and  especially  not  to  adopt  a  plausible  cor- 
rection, in  one  instance,  without  inquiring  whether 
it  is  admissible  and  advisable  in  all  parallel  and 
similar  passages. 

"  In  prosecuting  the  work,  I  have  derived  valuable 
aid  from  several  of  my  missionary  brethren,  espe- 
cially from  brother  Wade  formerly,  and  brother 
Jones,  now  of  Bangkok, —  latterly  from  the  brethren 
Mason,  Comstock,  and  Stevens.  Of  several  hundred 
suggestions  that  have  been  sent  me  from  different 
quarters,  I  have  sooner  or  later  adopted  by  far  the 
greater  part,  though  in  many  cases  with  some  modi- 
fication. 'Nor  ought  I  to  forget  my  native  brother, 
Moung  En,  my  faithful  fellow-laborer  for  many  years, 
even  before  the  present  revision  was  begun, —  one  of 
our  most  judicious  and  devoted  assistants." 

In  the  early  part  of  1840,  an  important  change 
took  place  at  the  Eangoon  mission.  For  two  or  three 
years  previous,  the  spirit  of  intolerance  had  strongly 
prevailed  at  times,  and  the  churches  in  all  parts  of 
Burmah  Proper  stood  in  a  precarious  condition.  In 
1838,  affairs  between  the  British  and  Burman  govern- 
ments assumed  a  w^arlike  aspect ;  and  Messrs.  Abbott 
and  Simons,  who  were  temporarily  at  Rangoon,  left 
the  place  in  November,  and  went  to  Maulmain. 
About  a  year  after,  the  former  returned  in  company 
with  Mr.  Kincaid,  who  had  known  the  viceroy  at 


540  THE   MISSIONARY    LABORS 

Ava.  Ho  was  a  tolerant  ruler,  and  had  invited 
these  missionaries  to  Rangoon,  and  now  urged  them 
to  remain.  His  virtues  caused  hi-s  overthrow,  for  he 
lost  his  office  by  his  kind  treatment  of  these  men  of 
God.  The  new  viceroy  was  despotic,  cruel,  and  in- 
tolerant, and  soon  after  his  arrival,  Messrs.  Kincaid 
and  Abbott  retired  to  Maulmain,  leaving  Burmali 
Proper  without  an  American  missionary.  In  a  short 
time,  they  both  went  to  Arracan. 

The  native  church  at  Rangoon  remained  under 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Ko  Thah-a,  but  languished  on 
account  of  the  absence  of  the  missionaries.  Mr. 
Yinton  visited  the  station  in  1842,  and  again  in  1844. 
The  last  time,  he  was  accompanied  by  Messrs.  Ste- 
vens and  Ingalls,  the  last  of  whom  had  been  stationed 
at  Mergui.  They  went  to  see  what  encouragement 
there  was  for  missionary  effort  at  this  old  original 
station,  round  which  the  affections  of  Mr.  Judson  and 
his  earlier,  living  associates  were  strongly  entwined. 
With  much  reluctance,  they  were  forced  to  decide 
that  it  was  inexpedient,  just  then,  to  attempt  to 
reestablish  the  mission. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1841,  Mr.  Judson  started,  in 
ill  health,  on  another  sea  voyage,  taking  his  family 
with  him.  He  first  landed  at  Calcutta ;  and,  pro- 
ceeding to  Serampore,  communicated  the  following 
intelligence  to  the  Board,  from  the  latter  place,  the 
last  of  July : 

"I  have  had  a  very  severe  trial  in  the  sickness  of 
my  family,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  one 


OF   ADONIEAM   JtTDSON-.  241 

of  the  children,  have  been  prostrated  for  several 
months,  and  several  of  them  repeatedly  at  the  point 
of  death.  AVe  came  here  at  the  urgent  importunity 
of  the  doctors,  and  my  missionary  associates.  The 
voyage  had  a  beneficial  effect  on  all  the  invalids, 
especially  Mrs.  Judson;  but,  since  our  arrival  here, 
we  have  been  subject  to  relapses,  so  that  vre  despair 
of  recovery,  without  some  further  change.  In  these 
circumstances,  we  regard  it  as  a  very  j^rovidential 
mercy,  that  the  pious  captain  of  a  vessel  proceeding 
to  the  Isle  of  France,  and  thence  to  Maulmain,  in- 
vited us  to  go  with  him  in  such  a  very  kind  manner 
as  assures  us  that  the  circuitous  voyage  will  not  cost 
the  mission  more  than  the  voyage  direct.  "VVe  ex- 
pect to  leave  this  in  a  few  days,  and  hope  to  be  in 
Maulmain  by  the  end  of  October.  And  may  God 
bless  the  double  voyage  before  us,  and  the  interven- 
ing residence  of  a  few  weeks  at  the  Isle  of  France, 
to  our  recovery  to  health,  that  we  may  resume  our 
work  with  renewed  vigor,  and  devote  the  remnant 
of  our  spared  lives  to  the  service  of  Christ  among 
Burmans.  My  own  health  is  pretty  good,  except 
that  my  lungs  have  never  recovered  their  natural 
soundness  and  strength,  and  I  am  obliged  to  use 
them  with  great  care  in  public  speaking.  In  com- 
mon conversation,  I  have  not  the  smallest  incon- 
venience. And  this  is  a  great  mercy,  considering 
the  state  to  which  I  was  once  reduced.  I  never 
realized  what  a  great  privilege  it  is  to  be  able  to  use 
the  voice  for  Christ,  until  I  was  deprived  of  it.    And 

now,  when  I  would  fain  break  out  as  usual,  the 
16 


242  THE   MTSSIONAET   LABORS 

weakness  of  the  flesh  does  not  second  the  willingness 
of  the  spirit.  I  can  still  say,  Well,  it  is  a  mercy 
undeserved,  to  be  able  to  go  thus  far.  And  one  is 
more  willing  also  to  be  disabled  when  there  are 
others  ready  to  carry  on  the  work.  I  esteem  it  the 
crowning  mercy  of  my  life,  that  not  only  the  chief 
ends  I  contemplated  on  becoming  a  missionary  are 
attained ;  but  I  am  allowed  to  see  competent,  faith- 
ful, anci  affectionate  successors  actively  engaged  in 
the  work.  In  their  hands  I  am  happy  to  leave  it,  or 
rather  in  the  hands  of  Christ,  who  carried  it  on  be- 
fore we  were  bom,  and  while  we  were  in  arms 
against  him,  and  will  carry  it  on  more  gloriously, 
when  we  repose  in  the  grave,  and  in  paradise.  Glory 
be  to  Him  alone. 

"We  are  obliged  to  leave  our  darling  youngest 
child,  aged  one  year  and  seven  months,  in  the  mis- 
sion burial  ground  of  Serampore.  His  old  com- 
plaint, which  had  never  been  effectually  removed, 
came  on  with  fearful  violence,  and  he  died  in  con- 
vulsions, on  the  30th  ultimo.  The  agony  of  witness- 
ing the  dying  struggles  of  a  beloved  child,  and 
beholding  the  last  imploring  looks,  unable  to  afford 
the  smallest  relief,  none  can  know  but  a  bereaved 
parent.  Mrs.  J.  and  myself  have  frequently  endured 
this  fiery  trial,  and  now,  with  bleeding  hearts,  we 
must  turn  away  from  the  grave  of  dear  Henry,  and 
pursue  our  melancholy  way,  in  hope  that  the  life 
of  the  mother  and  the  remaining  children  may  yet 
be  spared." 


OF   ADOWIRAM   JIJDSON.  243 

Mr.  Judson  proceeded  with  the  surviving  members 
of  his  family  to  the  Isle  of  France,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  18th  of  October.  Writing  to  the 
Board,  two  or  three  weeks  before  leaving,  at  which 
time  all  his  family  but  the  oldest  son  w^ere  in  com- 
fortable health,  he  says  :  "I  hope  that,  whatever 
may  be  the  fate  of  some  of  the  children,  we  shall  be 
able,  ere  long,  to  return  to  our  station,  and  resume 
our  labors  with  renewed  strength  during  the  period 
that  may  yet  be  allowed  us  to  labor  on  earth." 

He  arrived  at  Maulmain  on  the  10th  of  December, 
with  his  son  in  a  convalescent  state,  and  the  rest  of 
the  family  in  good  health. 


CHAPTER    XIX 


Mr.  Judson  commences  a  Bui*man  Dictionary  —  Labors  of  his  Associates  —  Con- 
dition of  the  Mauhnain  Mission  Churches  —  Printing  —  Maulmain  Mission- 
ary Society  —  Arrival  of  Messrs,  Binney  and  Bullard  —  Baptismal  Scene,  &c. 
Ilhiess  of  Mrs.  Judson  —  Mr.  Judson  decides  to  visit  America. 

In  May,  1842,  Mr.  Judson  commenced  another 
great  literary  undertaking,  the  preparation  of  a  com- 
plete dictionary  of  the  Burman  language.  Prior  to 
this,  besides  attending  to  the  publication  of  the 
revised  edition  of  the  Bible,  and  the  pastoral  duties 
of  the  Burman  church,  he  had  translated  the  Pil- 
grim's Progress,  and  performed  other  and  scarcely 
lighter  literary  tasks.  He  began  the  dictionary  with 
much  reluctance,  and  after  repeated  invitations  from 
the  Board.  The  compilation  which  had  been  used 
since  1826,  was  very  imperfect,  and  no  one  had  felt 
more  sensibly  than  he,  the  need  of  a  fuller  and  more 
correct  work ;  yet  it  was  his  wish,  when  he  left  Bur- 
mah  Proper,  in  1826,  to  avoid  literary  and  scientific 
pursuits  as  much  as  possible,  and  devote  himself 
directly  to  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  Hence,  after 
revising  the  Bible,  he  had  "  resolved  and  re-resolved  " 


ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  245 

never  to  touch  the  dictionary ;  but  "  it  is  not  in  man  / 
that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps."  Providence  had 
decreed  that  he  should  commence  it ;  and  seeing  the 
gates  of  Burmah  Proper  barred  against  him  and  his 
coadjutors,  and  the  Maulmain  mission  well  supplied 
with  laborers,  the  way  at  length  seemed  clear  to 
make  a  beginning.  With  reference  to  this  work,  he 
thus  writes,  under  date  of  July  13th,  1843  : 

"  We  are  apt  to  magnify  the  importance  of  any 
undertaking  in  which  we  are  warmly  engaged.  Per- 
haps it  is  from  the  influence  of  that  principle,  that, 
notwithstanding  my  long  cherished  aversion  to  the 
work,  I  have  come  to  think  it  very  important ;  and 
that,  having  seen  the  accomplishment  of  two  objects, 
on  which  I  set  my  heart  when  I  first  came  to  the 
East,  —  the  establishment  of  a  church  of  converted 
natives,  and  the  translation  of  the  Bible  into  their 
language, — I  now  beguile  my  daily  toil  with  the  pros- 
pect of  compassing  a  third,  which  may  be  compared 
to  a  causeway,  designed  to  facilitate  the  transmission 
of  all  knowledge,  religious  and  scientific,  from  one  - 
people  to  the  other. 

"  It  was  my  first  intention  to  make  a  single  work, 
Burmese  and  English ;  but,  as  I  proceeded,  I  dis- 
covered many  reasons  for  constructing  a  double  work, 
in  two  parts,  the  first  Burmese  and  English,  the  sec- 
ond English  and  Burmese.  I  hope,  by  daily  unin- 
terrupted labor,  to  have  the  whole  ready  for  the 
press  by  the  end  of  1845.  Not,  indeed,  that  I  count 
on  living  so  long.     Above  thirty  years  spent  in  a 


246  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

tropical  climate,  (to-daj  is  tlie  twenty-ninth  anniver- 
sary of  my  arrival  in  Burmah,"^  leaves  but  little 
ground  to  build  future  plans  ujDon.  But  I  feel  it  my 
duty  to  plod  on  while  daylight  shall  last,  looking  out 
for  the  night,  and  ready  to  bequeath  both  the  plod- 
ding and  the  profit  to  any  brother  who  shall  be  wil- 
ling to  carry  on  and  complete  the  work,  when  I  shall 
have  obtained  my  discharge." 

In  the  same  letter,  Mr.  Judson  apologizes  to  the 
Board  for  the  rareness  and  brevity  of  his  communi- 
cations, during  the  years  he  was  engaged  in  trans- 
lating and  revising  the  Burman  Bible,  and  the  first 
year  of  his  engagement  on  the  dictionary.  The  ab- 
sorbing and  mentally  fatiguing  nature  of  these  tasks 
and  their  unfruitfulness  in  epistolary  topics,  seemed 
to  justify  his  silence.  He  says :  "  I  never  think, 
without  some  uneasiness,  of  the  unfrequency  of  my 
communications  to  the  Board;  and  if  I  had  not  an 
apology  at  hand,  I  should  feel  self-condemned.  A 
person  employed  in  direct  missionary  work  among 
the  natives,  especially  if  his  employ  is  somewhat 
itinerant,  can  easily  make  long  and  interesting  jour- 
nals. The  first  epithet,  at  least,  may  be  applied  to 
Bome  of  my  early  communications.  But  it  has  been 
my  lot,  for  many  years  past,  to  spend  most  of  my 
time  over  the  study  table,  and  my  itinerating  has 

*  Professor  Gammell  states,  that  the  ship  which  took  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Judson  to  Burmah,  came  to  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Rangoon,  on  the 
14th  of  the  month,  which  day  is  more  properly  the  anniversary  of 
their  arrival 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  24:7 

scarcely  extended  beyond  the  limits  of  my  morning 
walks,  and  the  precincts  of  the  mission  enclosure." 

While  Mr.  Judson  was  engaged  on  the  dictionary, 
and  attending  to  his  pastoral  duties,  his  associates  in 
the  same  mission,  male  and  female,  were,  perhaps, 
equally  as  industrious  in  their  several  positions.  Mr. 
Stevens  had  the  charge  of  the  English  church  at 
Maulmain,  and  also  of  the  Pwo  Karen  chm-ch  at 
Dong  Yan.  In  his  connection  with  the  former  body, 
he  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Simons,  who  was  conducting 
the  Eurasian  boarding  school.  Mr.  Yinton  was  la- 
boring alternately  in  the  Sgau  Karen  department  at 
Maulmain,  and  at  the  Karen  stations.  Mr.  J.  H. 
Chandler,  a  machinist,  who  was  appointed  in  1840, 
had  charge  of  the  printing  and  binding  department, 
but  was  transferred  to  the  Siam  mission  in  1843. 
Mr.  Osgood  managed  the  secular  concerns  of  the 
mission,  and,  after  the  departm-e  of  Mr.  Chandler, 
superintended  the  printing  and  binding  establish- 
ment. Mr.  Howard  managed  the  Burman  boarding 
school.  Mr.  Haswell  was  at  Amherst,  where  he 
had  been  stationed  several  years,  and  was  devoting 
himself  principally  to  the  Peguan  people,  in  whose 
language  he  was  ti^anslating  the  Scriptures.  The 
church,  of  which  he  was  pastor,  contained,  in  1843, 
between  thirty  and  forty  members.  The  number 
baptized  into  the  seven  churches  connected  with  the 
Maulmain  mission  dm-ing  the  year  ending  July  1st, 
1843,  was  seventy-eight.  Forty-one  died  the  same 
year  of  the  cholera,  which  raged  in  several  places 
in  the  empire.     It  was  still  more  fatal  among  the 


248  THE   MISSIONAET  LABOES 

Eangoon  and  other  Karens  of  Burmah  Proper,  of 
whom  it  is  estimated  that  the  loss  amounted  to  five 
hundred.  Several  of  these  were  native  assistants. 
The  number  added  to  the  Maulmain  churches  the 
following  year,  on  a  profession  of  faith,  was  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-niiie.  During  the  same  period,  twelve 
were  added  to  the  Karen  church  at  Rangoon,  being 
baptized  by  Mr.  Yinton  while  on  a  visit,  of  which 
we  have  previously  spoken. 

For  a  few  years  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  mis- 
sionaries from  Burmah  Proper,  the  urgency  for  print- 
ing at  Maulmain  was  not  so  great  as  it  had  been, 
and  the  number  of  books  and  tracts  distributed 
was  comparatively  small.  The  printing,  in  1843, 
amounted  to  only  forty-two  thousand  copies,  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-six  thousand  pages,  though  the 
issues  were  comparatively  larger.'''  The  number  of 
books  and  other  tracts  printed  the  following  year 
was  five  thousand;  tlie  number  issued  was  about 
twenty- seven  thousand.  Two  thousand  of  the  copies 
printed  in  1844  were  school  books;  the  rest  were  of 
a  religious  character.  The  whole  number  of  pages 
printed  at  the  Maulmain  station  prior  to  July,  of 
this  year  was  60,890,900. 

Several  years  previous  to  this  time,  a  missionary 
society  had  been  formed  at  Maulmain,  the  members 
being  mostly  connected  with  the  English   church. 


*  "  About  one  lialf  the  issues  from  the  depository  were  to  Maul- 
main, and  the  remainder  to  Amlierst  and  the  three  stations  in  Arra- 
can  "—  Ramree,  Akyab,  and  Sandoway. 


OF  ADONIEAM  JUDSON.  249 

Its  contributions,  in  1844,  amounted  to  between 
three  and  four  thousand  rupees ;  and  its  seventh 
annual  report,  being  for  that  year,  shows  that  twen- 
ty-five native  assistants  w^ere  then  in  its  employ. 
They  were  at  different  stations  and  out-stations, 
among  the  Peguans,  Burmans,  Pwo  Karens,  and 
Sgau  Karens.  The  English  church  was  at  that 
time  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition,  which  is  no 
doubt  to  be  attributed,  in  part,  to  the  liberality 
of  its  members,  as  exhibited  above.  Nothing  is 
truer  than  the  remark  of  Horace  Smith,  that,  "  by 
bestowing  blessings  on  others,  we  entail  them  on 
ourselves." 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  the  Maulmain  mission  was 
reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Joseph  G.  Bin- 
ney  and  Edwin  B.  Bullard,  and  their  wives.*  Their 
designation  was  to  the  Karen  department.  Both 
gentlemen  were  preachers,  and  the  former  was  also 
a  teacher.  The  latter  died  at  Maulmain  on  the  5th 
of  April,  1847,  one  day  less  than  two  years  after  his 
arrival.  Mrs.  Bullard  became  the  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Mason,  with  whom  she  is  now  toiling  at  Tavoy. 

Mr.  Mason  visited  Maulmain  in  February,  1844; 
and  his  journal  at  that  period  is  rich  in  tlie  fruits  of 
observation  and  reflection.  The  following  extract  is 
not  wholly  irrelevant  to  om-  subject: 

"  On  Sabbath  forenoon,  I  preached  in  Burman  for 

*  Mr.  Thomas  S.  Ranney  and  wife,  who  are  now  stationed  at 
Maulmain,  entered  the  work  of  missions  the  same  spring,  at  Tavoy, 
He  is  a  printer. 

11* 


250  THE  MISSIONAEY  LABOKS 

Mr.  Judson,  and  lie  baptized  two  very  respectable 
Burman  men  at  the  close  of  worship.  One  of  them 
has  occasioned  more  noise  in  town  than  any  other 
individual,  I  am  told,  that  has  ever  forsaken  idolatry. 
He  is  a  respectable  merchant ;  but  his  wife  has  left 
him  and  taken  his  property,  and  his  friends  have 
used  every  possible  means  in  their  power  to  prevent 
his  being  baptized.  There  was  a  great  multitude  at 
his  baptism,  and  Mr.  Judson  anticipated  some  dis- 
turbance ;  but  all  passed  off  quietly.  Mr.  Judson 
rose  up  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  as  the  people 
crowded  into  the  chapel,  and  addi-essed  them  with 
such  tact,  that,  whatever  their  intentions  might  have 
been,  they  were  left  without  any  pretence  for  making 
trouble.  At  the  immersion  of  the  first  candidate,  a 
laugh  was  raised  by  the  multitude,  but  Mr.  Judson 
shook  his  finger  at  them,  and  when  the  second  was 
baptized  all  were  as  silent  as  the  grave. 

"  At  English  worship  in  the  evening,  I  saw  several 
English  ofiicers  among  the  despised  Anabaptists,  as 
the  English  call  us,  a  sight  not  often  seen  in  English 
congregations.  Three  of  them,  at  least,  appeared 
like  brother  missionaries,  in  everything  but  their  red 
coats.  One  of  them,  the  paymaster  of  the  regiment, 
was  baptized  in  the  West  Indies,  and  has  turned 
missionary  literally.  He  has  obtained  a  Burman 
assistant  that  speaks  a  little  English,  and  he  goes  out 
daily  preaching,  and  reading,  and  distributing  books 
and  tracts.  He  stood  talking  with  me  for  half  an 
hour  about  his  excursions,  and  evidently  feels  as 
much  interest  in  his  work  as  any  missionary  I  ever 


OF   ADONIRAM   JFDSON.  251 

saw.  If  he  be  a  specimen  of  tlie  West  India  mis- 
sionaries' converts,  the  wisest  thing  they  can  do  is  to 
leave  their  enemies,  as  David  did  Shimei,  '  to  curse 
on ; '  and  imitate  their  divine  Master,  who,  when  he 
was  reviled,  '  opened  not  his  month.'  " 

In  December,  1844,  Mrs.  Jiidson  gave  birth  to  her 
eighth  child  by  her  second  husband.  About  this 
time,  she  was  attacked  w^ith  chronic  diarrhoea,  a  dis- 
ease to  which  she  had  been  subject  since  her  arrival 
in  Burmali.  She  had  been  a  great  sufferer  from  this 
source,  but  the  present  seemed  to  be  the  severest 
attack  of  all.  It  continued  to  progress,  in  spite  of 
medical  skill  and  a  short  voyage  along  the  Tenasserim 
coast;  and  it  at  lens^th  became  evident  that  she  must 
leave  the  tropics,  or  go  directly  to  the  grave.  Such 
being  Mr.  Judson's  opinion,  and  thinking  that  a  long 
voyage  might  possibly  be  the  means  of  her  restora- 
tion, he  decided  to  embark  for  his  native  land.  His 
intentions  were  made  known  to  the  Board  by  the 
following  communication,  which  is  dated,  Maulmain 
April  13,  1845 : 

"The  hand  of  God  is  heavy  upon  me.  The  com- 
plaint to  which  Mrs.  Judson  is  subject  has  become 
so  violent,  that  it  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  all  the 
medical  men,  and,  indeed,  of  all  our  friends,  that 
nothing  but  a  voyage  beyond  the  tropics  can  possibly 
protract  her  life  beyond  the  period  of  a  few  weeks, 
but  that  such  a  voyage  will,  in  all  probability,  ensure 
her  recovery.  All  medical  skill  has  been  exhausted. 
She  has  spent  six  weeks  with  our  commissioner  and 


252  THE   MISSIONARY    LABORS 

Ills  laclj,  in  a  trip  down  the  coast,  touching  at  Tavoy 
and  Mergui,  and  returned  weaker  and  nearer  the 
grave  than  when  she  set  out.  She  is  willing  to  die, 
and  I  hope  I  am  willing  to  see  her  die,  if  it  be  the 
divine  will;  but  though  nij  wife,  it  is  no  more  than 
truth  to  say,  that  there  is  scarcely  an  individual 
foreigner  now  alive,  wdio  speaks  and  writes  the  Bur- 
mese tongue  so  acceptably  as  she  does ;  and  I  feel 
that  an  effort  ought  to  be  made  to  save  her  life.  I 
Iiave  long  fought  against  the  necessity  of  accompany- 
ing her ;  but  she  is  now  so  desperately  w^eak  and 
almost  helpless,  that  all  say  it  would  be  nothing  but 
savage  inhumanity  to  send  her  off  alone.  The  three 
younger  children,  the  youngest  but  three  months  and 
%  half  old,  we  must  leave  behind  us,  casting  them, 
as  it  were,  on  the  waters,  in  the  hope  of  finding  them 
again  after  many  days.  The  three  elder,  Abby  Ann, 
Adoniram,  and  Elnathan,  we  take  with  us,  to  leave 
in  their  parents'  native  land.  These  rendings  of 
parental  ties  are  more  severe,  and  wring  out  bitterer 
tears  from  the  heart's  core,  than  any  can  possibly 
conceive,  who  have  never  felt  the  wrench.  But  I 
hope  I  can  say  with  truth,  that  I  love  Christ  above 
all ;  and  am  striving  in  the  strength  of  my  weak 
faith,  to  gird  up  my  mind  to  face  and  welcome  all 
his  appointments.  And  I  am  much  helped  to  bear 
these  trials,  by  the  advice  and  encouragement  of  all 
my  dear  brethren  and  sisters  of  the  mission. 

"  It  is  another  great  trial  to  leave  my  dear  church 
and  people.  I  never  knew,  till  now,  how  much  I 
loved  them,  and  how  much  they  loved  me. 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUDSON.  253 

'And  'tis  to  love,  our  farewells  owe 
All  their  enipliasis  of  woe.' 


But  I  leave  tlieni  in  the  hands  of  my  dear  brethren, 
and  there  arc  no  persons  in  tlie  world  to  whom  I 
should  be  so  willinsf  to  commit  so  dear  a  charo:e. 

"  Another  great  trial,  not  so  much  as  it  regards  feel- 
ing, as  it  regards  the  anticipated  result  of  long  pro- 
tracted labor,  is  the  interruption  which  the  heavy 
work  of  the  Burmese  dictionary,  in  which  I  have 
been  engaged  for  two  or  three  years,  must  sustain ; 
and  such  is  the  state  of  my  manuscripts,  that  if  I 
should  die  before  the  work  is  completed,  or  at  least 
carried  forward  to  a  much  more  advanced  stage,  all 
my  previous  labor  would  be  nearly  or  quite  lost. 
But  I  am  endeavoring  to  obviate  this  difficulty  in 
some  degree,  by  taking  with  me  my  two  assistants  in 
that  department,  whose  hearts  God  has  graciously 
inclined  to  leave  their  families  and  accomj^any  me. 
They  are  both  christians, —  the  one  a  settled  charac- 
ter, a  convert  of  long  standing,  formerly  a  govern- 
ment writer  in  Hangoon  ;  the  other  a  nephew  of  the 
late  premier  of  the  court  of  Ava,  a  j^erson  of  noble 
extraction,  and  though  not  a  tried  christian,  I  hope 
a  sincere  one.  And  it  is  my  purpose  to  devote  some 
hours  every  day,  whether  on  the  sea  or  land,  to  the 
work  mentioned.  I  shall  be  induced  to  persevere  in 
this  purpose  while  in  America,  from  the  fact,  that  I 
am  unable  to  travel  about  the  country  as  an  agent, 
and  preach  in  the  English  language.  The  course 
that  I  have  uniformly  pursued,  ever  since  I  became 


\l' 


254  THE   MISSIONARY    LABORS 

a  missionary,  has  been  rather  peculiar.  In  order  to 
become  an  acceptable  and  elocpient  preacher  in  a 
foreign  language,  I  deliberately  abjured  my  own. 
'When  I  crossed  the  river,  I  burnt  my  ships.  For 
thirty-two  years,  I  have  scarcely  entered  an  English 
pul]>it,  or  made  a  speech  in  that  language.  Whether 
I  have  pursued  the  w^isest  course,  I  will  not  contend ; 
and  how  far  I  have  attained  the  object  aimed  at,  I 
must  leave  for  others  to  say.  But  whether  right  or 
wrons:,  the  course  I  have  taken  cannot  be  retraced. 
The  burnt  ships  cannot  now  be  reconstructed.  From 
long  desuetude,  I  can  scarcely  put  three  sentences 
together  in  the  English  language.  I  must,  therefore, 
beg  the  Board  to  allow  me  a  quiet  corner,  w^here  I 
can  pursue  my  work  with  my  assistants,  undisturbed 
and  unknown. 

"  This  request  I  am  induced  to  urge,  from  the  fur- 
ther consideration,  that  my  voice,  though  greatly  re- 
covered from  the  affection  of  the  lungs,  which  laid  me 
aside  from  preaching  nearly  a  year,  is  still  so  weak 
that  it  can  only  fill  a  small  room ;  and  whenever  I 
attempt  to  raise  it  above  the  conversational  tone,  the 
weak  place  gives  way,  and  I  am  quite  broken  down 
again  for  several  weeks.  I  hoj)e,  therefore,  that  no 
one  will  try  to  persuade  me  to  be  guilty  of  such 
imprudence  while  in  America ;  but  since  there  are 
thousands  of  preachers  in  English,  and  only  five 
or  six  Burmese  preachers  in  the  whole  world,  I 
may  be  allowed  to  hoard  up  the  remnant  of  my 
breath  and  lungs,  for  the  country  where  they  are 
most  needed. 


OF    ADONIKAM    JUDSON.  255 

"  I  have  engaged  a  passage  in  the  Paragon  to 
London,  for  myself,  wife,  three  children,  and  two 
assistants,  for  sixteen  hundred  rupees.  I  should  have 
preferred  a  passage  direct,  but  circumstances  have 
rendered  it  impossible." 


CHAPTEK    XX 

Embarkalion  of  the  Judson  Family  for  the  United  States  —  Hopes,  and  Feara, 
and  Clianges  of  Plans  at  the  Isle  of  France — Voyage  continued  —  Mrs.  Jud- 
son's  last  Hours  — Her  Death,  and  Burial  at  St.  Helena  — Mr.  Judson  arrives 
in  Boston  —  His  Reception  there  —  Dr.  Sharp's  Address  —  An  Incident. 

\Tliirtj-tliree  years  had  passed  since  the  Caravan 
eighed  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Salem,  and  Mr. 
Judson  bent  his  conrse  to  India,  when,  on  the  26th 
of  April,  1845,  he  turned  his  face  toward  the  land 
of  his  birth,  which  he  had  often  thought  he  should 
see  no  more. 

The  bracing  air  of  the  Indian  ocean  had  a  happy 
influence  on  Mrs.  Judson  ;  and,  on  arriving  at  the 
Isle  of  France,  she  had  so  much  improved  that  the 
two  native  assistants  were  sent  back  to  Maulmain, 
Mr.  Judson  intending  soon  to  follow  them.  His 
wife  and  the  three  children  were  to  proceed,  and, 
anticipating  a  separation  from  her  husband  on  that 
"  green  islet,"  she  penned  those  familiar  and  beau- 
tiful lines  entitled  "  The  Parting,"  concluding  with 
the  following  stirring  and  highly  poetic  injunction 
to  the  hero  of  a  thirty  years'  campaign,  and  a  thou- 
sand victorious  conflicts  with  Error,  in  the  jungle : 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  267 

"  Then  gird  thine  armor  on,  love, 
Nor  faint  thou  by  the  way. 
Till  Buddh  sliall  fall,  and  Biirmah's  sons 
Shall  own  Messiah's  sway." 

The  vessel  remained  at  tlie  Isle  of  France  three 
weeks,  and,  before  the  day  arrived  for  sailing,  her 
disease  relapsed,  and  Mr.  Judson  deemed  it  advis- 
able to  continue  with  her.  While  don])ling  the 
Cape,  she  became  weaker  and  weaker,  and,  before 
reaching  St.  Helena,  disease  had  made  such  inroads 
on  her  constitution,  that  she  became  convinced  that 
her  end  was  near,  and  that  the  shores  of  heaven 
would  heave  in  sight  before  she  could  reach  her 
native  land.  And,  with  her  hand  fastened  on  the 
skies,  the  rolling  earth*  could  present  no  scene  so 
tempting  as  to  cause  her  heart  and  hopes  to  linger 
below,  if  it  were  the  will  of  God  that  she  should 
noio  ascend.  "  She  had  been  in  the  habit,"  says 
Mr.  Judson,  "  of  contemplating  death  as  neither  dis- 
tant nor  undesirable.  As  it  drew  near,  she  remained 
perfectly  tranquil.  No  shade  of  doubt,  or  fear,  or 
anxiety,  ever  passed  over  her  mind.  She  had  a 
prevailing  preference  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ. 
'  I  am  longing  to  depart,'  and  '  what  can  I  want 
besides  ? '  quoting  the  language  of  a  familiar  hymn, 
were  the  expressions  which  revealed  the  spiritual 
peace  and  joy  of  her  mind;  yet,  at  times,  the 
thought  of  her  native  land,  to  which  she  was  now 

*  His  hand  the  good  man  fastens  on  the  skies. 
And  bids  earth  roll,  nor  feels  her  idle  -whirl. — Youno. 
17 


258  THE   MISSIONARY  LABORS 

approaching,  after  an  absence  of  twenty  years,  and 
a  longing  desire  to  see  once  more  lier  son  George, 
her  parents,  and  the  friends  of  her  youth,  drew 
down  her  ascending  sonl,  and  constrained  her  to 
say,  '  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two, — let  the  will  of 
God  be  done.' 

"  In  regard  to  her  children,  she  ever  manifested 
the  most  surprising  composure  and  resignation,  so 
much  so,  that  I  was  once  induced  to  say,  '  You  seem 
to  have  forgotten  the  dear  little  ones  we  have  left 

behind.'     '  Can  a  mother  forget  ? ' she  replied, 

and  w^as  unable  to  proceed.  During  her  last  days 
she  spent  much  time  in  j)raying  for  the  early  con- 
version of  her  children.  May  her  living  and  her 
dying  prayers  draw  down  the  blessing  of  God  on 
their  bereaved  heads." 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  a  few  days  before 
her  death,  Mr.  Judson  called  the  children  to  her 
bedside,  and  remarked  to  her,  in  his  humble,  self- 
abasing  way,  that  he  wished  to  ask  pardon  for  all  his 
unkind  words  and  deeds,  saying  that  he  had  failed 
to  treat  her  with  the  kindness  and  affection  which 
she  had  merited.  To  this  remark,  she  replied,  in 
that  grateful  and  Christ-like  spirit,  which  j^eculiarly 
marked  her  character,  "  O,  you  will  kill  m.e,  if  you 
talk  so.  It  is  I  that  should  ask  pardon  of  you ;  and 
I  only  want  to  get  well  that  I  may  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  making  some  return  for  all  your  kindness, 
and  of  showing  you  how  much  I  love  you." 

Mr.  Judson  was  now  expecting  to  be  under  the 
painful  necessity  of  consigning  his  beloved  partner 


OF   ADOXIRAM   JUDSON.  259 

to  the  deep;  ''but  it  was  so  ordered  in  divine  Prov- 
idence," he  writes,  '•  that  when  tlie  indications  of 
approaching  death  had  become  strongly  marked,  the 
ship  came  to  anchor  in  the  port  of  St.  Helena.  For 
three  days  she  continued  to  sink  rapidly,  though  her 
bodily  sufferings  were  not  very  severe.  Her  mind 
became  liable  to  wander;  but  a  single  word  w^as 
sufficient  to  recall  and  steady  her  recollections.  On 
the  evening  of  the  31st  of  August,  she  appeared  to 
be  drawing  near  to  the  end  of  her  pilgrimage.  The 
children  took  leave  of  her,  and  retired  to  rest.  I  sat 
alone  by  the  side  of  her  bed  during  the  hours  of  the 
night,  endeavoring  to  administer  relief  to  the  dis- 
tressed body,  and  consolation  to  the  departing  soul 
At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  wishing  to  obtain  one 
more  token  of  recognition,  I  roused  her  attention, 
and  said,  '  Do  you  still  love  the  Saviour? '  '  O  yes,' 
she  replied,  '  I  ever  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  I 
said  again,  '  Do  you  still  love  me  ? '  She  replied  in 
the  affirmative,  by  a  peculiar  expression  of  her  own. 
'  Then  give  me  one  more  kiss  ;  "  and  we  exchanged 
that  token  of  love  for  the  last  time.  Another  hour 
passed, —  life  continued  to  recede, — and  she  ceased  to 
breathe.  For  a  moment,  I  traced  her  upward  flight, 
and  thought  of  the  wonders  which  were  opening  to 
her  view.  I  then  closed  her  sightless  eyes,  dressed 
her,  for  the  last  time,  in  the  drapery  of  death;  and, 
being  quite  exhausted  with  many  sleepless  nights,  1 
threw  myself  down  and  slept.  On  awaking  in  the 
morning,  I  saw  the  children  standing  and  weeping 


260  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

around  the  body  of  their  dear  mother,  then,  for  the 
first  time,  inattentive  to  their  cries." 

Her  interment  took  place  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
day  on  which  she  died,  and  the  following  exceed- 
ingly interesting  account  of  it,  was  communicated, 
in  the  autumn  of  1850,  to  a  religious  publication 
of  Boston,  by  Rev.  J.  McGregor  Bertram,  a  Baptist 
clergyman,  at  St.  Helena.  We  take  the  liberty 
to  slightly  abridge  the  portion  of  the  article  trans- 
cribed, and  to  correct  one  or  two  errors,  probably 
typographical : 

"Early  in  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  September,  I 
received  a  note  from  Mr.  Carrol,  the  American  con- 
sul of  that  island,  informing  me  that  a  ship  named 
the  Sophia  Walker,  had  dropped  anchor  in  our  bay, 
the  previous  night,  and  that  she  had  on  board  two 
distinguished  passengers,  Mr.  Judson  and  lady,  with 
their  three  children ;  but,  sad  to  state,  since  that 
brief  period,  Mrs.  Judson  had  departed  this  life. 
He  further  stated,  that  Mr.  Judson  sent  his  christian 
regards  to  me,  requesting  that  I  would  come  on 
board,  as  he  was  very  desirous  to  see  me.  I  had 
heard  of  Mr.  Judson  long  before,  and  had  learned  to 
think  of  him  as  one  of  the  most  noble  heroes  of  the 
'  cross  of  Christ.'  With  a  heart  full  of  painful  sym- 
pathy, I  hastened  to  the  vessel.  As  the  boat  in 
which  I  was,  neared  the  floating  house  of  death,  I 
perceived  several  of  the  crew  approaching  the  gang- 
way. Deep  sorrow  was  depicted  on  their  counte- 
nances.   The  captain  received  me  with  a  welcome^ 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  261 

and  after  a  few  touching  hints,  conducted  me  to  the 
cabin,  where  I  was,  for  the  first  time,  introduced  to 
Mr.  Judson.  He  held  out  his  hand ;  but,  for  a  mo- 
ment, his  heart  was  too  full  for  articulation.  He 
looked  pale  and  careworn.  The  bitter  tears  flowed 
down  his  cheeks  in  rapid  succession,  moistening  his 
lips,  as  if  seeking  to  find  their  way  back  again  into 
that  heart  of  sorrow,  whence  they  flowed.  Such  a 
touching  scene  I  never  witnessed  before.  With  him 
stood  his  three  small  children,  weeping,  and  refusing 
to  be  comforted,  because  she,  whom  they  so  dearly 
loved,  was  not.  Mr.  Judson  soon  regained  his  self- 
possession.  He  spoke  to  his  afliicted  children  in  the 
sweetest  manner,  and  in  the  most  consoling  language 
a  christian  father's  lips  could  utter,  and  then  turning 
to  me,  said, 

"'O  sir,  she  died  in  the  Lord  —  so  peacefully.  I 
asked  her,  but  a  little  before  she  died,  if  she  loved 
the  Saviour,  and  could  trust  her  soul  into  his  hands. 
She  answered,  '  Yes,  O  yes.'  Come,  Mr.  Bertram, 
will  you  look  at  my  love?  She  is  just  like  herself, 
lovely,  even  in  death.' 

"  He  led  the  way  into  the  state-room,  where  lay 
the  cold  remains  in  which  once  dwelt  the  soul  of 
her  who  had  given  and  devoted  to  the  Saviour's 
cause,  her  life,  her  all.  Pleasant  she  was,  indeed, 
even  in  death.  A  sweet  smile  of  love  seemed  to  rest 
on  her  countenance,  as  if  heavenly  grace  had  stamped 
it  there.  Mr.  Judson  stood  at  her  head,  and  the 
children  around  her,  weeping  and  sobbing.  He 
kissed  her  cold  forehead,  again  and  again,  bedewing 


262  THE   MISSIONARY    LABOItS 

it  with  tears.  After  a  few  moments,  he  said,  'My 
love  suffered  much,  before  she  died ;  but  never  mur- 
mured. Her  sufferings  are  over.  Yes,  she  is  now 
in  heaven.  I  did  all  for  her  myself ;  dressed,  and 
laid  her  out  myself.  This  was  her  own  request.  To 
me  it  was  a  painful  duty  ;  but  God  sustained  me.' 

"  He  then  informed  me  that  arrangements  had 
been  made  for  the  funeral,  which  w^as  to  take  place 
at  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  begged  I  would  attend 
and  conduct  the  religious  services  on  board  the  ves- 
sel. I  then  left  the  ship  and  hastened  on  shore,  to 
summon  all  my  christian  brethren  to  be  in  waiting 
on  the  wharf,  at  half  past  three  o'clock.  Keturning 
to  the  vessel,  I  remained  with  Mr.  Judson  until  after- 
noon. When  the  time  for  the  religious  service 
arrived,  the  captain  called  together  all  the  friends 
who  were  on  board,  and  all  hands  who  could  be 
spared  from  the  ship.  I  then  read  a  suitable  portion 
of  the  divine  word,  and  gave  a  brief  address,  I  trust 
fi-om  the  Lord  a  w^ord  in  season,  and  then  we  all 
knelt  in  prayer  to  the  wise  Disposer  of  every  event. 
When  the  service  w^as  ended,  we  again  visited  the 
solemn  state-room,  to  take  a  last  look  of  the  departed 
wife  and  missionary.  The  bereaved  husband  and 
weeping  children  fastened  their  eyes  upon  the  loved 
remains,  as  if  they  could  have  looked  forever. 
Weeping,  kiss  after  kiss  was  imprinted  on  the  cold 
forehead.  The  last  look  was  taken,  the  last  kiss 
imparted,  and  then  all  was  hid  from  mortal  vision, 
until  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  The  coffin 
was  removed  to  the  boat,  which  was  to  convey  it  on 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  263 

shore.  Other  boats  were  connected  with  this,  so 
arranged  as  to  form  a  funeral  procession — three 
going  ahead,  towing  the  one  which  contained  the 
corpse,  and  moving  forward  with  the  heavy  beatings 
of  their  oars,  and  another  followed,  in  which  were 
Mr.  Judson  and  the  three  children,  with  the  captain 
of  the  ship  and  myself  as  chief  mourners.  Our 
christian  brethren  and  sisters  were  in  a  goodly  num- 
ber, with  Mr.  Carrol,  the  American  consul,  and  his 
family  and  some  other  of  his  friends,  already  waiting 
on  the  shore,  to  join  the  funeral  j)rocession.  The 
body  was  then  transferred  from  the  boat  to  the  bier, 
which  was  carried  by  a  number  of  seamen.  The 
pall  bearers  we  selected  from  among  our  christian  sis- 
ters. They  were  four  in  number  and  chief  women, 
viz.,  Mrs.  Captain  O'Connor,  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany ;  Mrs.  Janisch,  wddow  of  the  late  Dutch  con- 
sul ;  Mrs.  Torbett,  of  JN'apoleon's  tomb ;  Mrs.  Carrol, 
American  consul's  lady.  Mr.  Judson  and  myself 
walked  first,  leading  one  of  the  children ;  the  cap- 
tain next  came,  leading  the  other  two ;  the  American 
consul  followed,  with  his  Mends ;  then  our  christian 
brethren  and  sisters,  two  and  two  ;  the  whole  num- 
bering about  one  hundred  persons.  It  is  nearly  half 
a  mile  from  the  landing  to  the  burying  ground, 
the  way  to  which  lies  through  the  town.  The  in- 
habitants paid  their  respects  by  closing  their  shops. 
The  street  was  considerably  lined  on  either  side 
with  spectators,  who  all  appeared  to  manifest  a 
mournful  sympathy  with  Mr.  Judson  and  the  dear 
children. 


26^  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

"On  arriving  at  tlie  gi-ave,  the  Episcopal  clergyman 
read  the  burial  service  of  the  Church  of  England. 
The  body  was  then  committed  to  its  mother  dust. 
Our  christian  brethren  stood  around  the  grave  and 
sung  a  solemn  hymn,  selected  for  the  occasion. 
During  this  service,  as  Mr.  Judson  stood  supported 
by  my  arm,  I  felt  his  animal  frame  frequently  ready 
to  give  way,  particularly  toward  the  last,  when  the 
coffin  was  about  to  be  lowered  into  the  grave.  I 
could  see  him  heaving  his  heart  to  God,  for  power 
from  on  high,  to  strengthen  him.  God  heard  his 
prayer,  and  held  him  up.  All  being  now  over,  the 
christian  friends  began  to  withdraw ;  but  Mr.  Judson 
and  the  children  appeared  to  linger,  as  if  reluctant 
to  leave  the  sacred  spot.  "We  left  the  remains  of 
Mrs.  Judson,  in  one  of  the  choicest  spots  of  the  bur- 
ying ground  —  a  banian  tree  spreading  its  branches 
over  it,  as  if  to  guard  the  precious  treasure  which  lay 
interred  beneath  its  shade. 

"  We  then  conducted  Mr.  Judson  and  the  children 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  Alesworth,  which  stood 
adjacent  to  the  burying  ground.  His  large  parlor 
was  filled  with  christian  friends.  A  prayer  meeting 
was  held.  A  goodly  number  engaged,  each  and  all 
praying  God  for  comfort  and  support  to  his  dear 
servant  and  his  children,  in  this,  their  time  of  need. 
"We  all  took  tea  together,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  time  in  religious  convei*sation,  speaking  much  of 
Jesus  and  the  resuirection.  And  now  the  time  of 
Mr.  Judson's  departure  drew  nigh.  Tlie  captain 
called,  informing  him  that  there  was  little  time  to 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUD80N.  265 

spare,  as  the  ship  was  to  put  out  to  sea  again  that 
evening.  Mr.  Judson  then  arose  and  addressed  us. 
He  spoke  with  feelings  of  the  highest  gratitude  of 
the  Lord's  goodness  unto  him,  in  sparing  him  the 
painful  task  of  burying  the  remains  of  his  beloved 
wife  in  the  restless  deep  ;  in  bringing  her  to  our 
island,  and  in  giving  her  a  christian  burial,  and  sur- 
rounding him  with  so  many  kind  friends,  who  had 
joined  with  him  in  paying  the  last  tribiite  of  respect  to 
her,  who  to  him,  had  proved  one  of  the  best  of  wives, 
and  the  most  devoted  mother.  He  said  he  never 
could  have  thought  God  had  so  many  who  loved  him 
on  the  island,  and  that  he  expected,  when  Mrs.  Jud- 
son died,  to  have  buried  her  with  the  assistance  of  a 
few  seamen  and  a  small  number  of  sympathizing 
fi-iends.  He  thanked  us  all  from  his  very  heart,  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  for  our  christian  sympathy 
and  kindness  to  him  and  his  children,  praying  God 
to  reward  us  a  thousand  fold,  to  bless  us  as  a  chris- 
tian church,  and  requested  that  we  would  follow  him 
with  our  prayers,  when  on  the  mighty  deep.  He 
then  gave  Mr.  Carrol  and  myself  charge  of  the 
grave,  and  instructions  concerning  the  headstone. 
He  desired  me  often  to  give  the  hallowed  spot,  where 
lay  the  remains  of  his  beloved  wife,  a  friendly  look, 
instead  of  himself,  who  would  soon  be  far  away  from 
it ;  but  should  continue  to  visit  it  in  the  mournftd 
remembrance  of  his  spirit.  We  accompanied  him 
to  the  ship,  sorrowing  with  double  sorrow,  that  we 
should  see  his  face  no  more  in  the  flesh.  Bidding 
him  God  speed,  we  said  the  last  farewell." 
12 


266  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOKS 

Mr.  Jiidson's  friends  at  St.  Helena  united  with 
Capt.  Codman,  commander  of  the  vessel,  in  defraying 
tlie  expenses  of  the  funeral,  and  pledged  themselves 
to  su]3erintend  the  erection  of  the  grave  stones,  which 
were  soon  afterward  forwarded. 

Mrs.  Judson  died  in  the  forty-second  year  of  her 
age,  and  the  twenty-first  of  her  missionary  life.  Few 
women  live  on  the  field  so  long,  and  rarely  does  one 
accomplish  so  much.  Her  talents  were  of  a  supei'ior 
order,  and  were  all  given  to  the  service  of  her  Master. 
Though  precocious  in  her  mental  developments,  her 
mind  gathered  strength  as  her  years  advanced  and 
her  responsibilities  increased;  and  her  first  great 
sorrow,  the  loss  of  her  oldest  child,  in  1829,  thor- 
oughly subdued  her  heart,  and  gave  a  more  uniform- 
ly heavenward  bias  to  her  moral  affections ;  so  that, 
to  intellectual  brilliancy  was  now  added  that  sweet 
humility  which  gives  one  the  dignity,  almost,  of  an 
angel,  and  is  the  finishing  stroke  to  human  excel- 
lence. "When,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one,  she  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Judson,  she  stood  in  the  front  rank  of 
living  women.  Possessing  every  qualification  for  a 
missionary,  she  was  a  fit  companion  for  him  who  had 
learned  to  appreciate  the  strong  powers  of  mind,  the 
majestic  sweetness  of  character,  and  the  matchless, 
self-sacrificing  fidelity  of  her,  who,  after  a  life  of 
trials  heroically  borne,  and  of  labors  sublimely  per- 
formed, went  to  sleep  on  the  shore  of  the  Indian  sea. 

A  short  time  before  midnight  of  the  day  on  which 
Mrs.  Judson  was  buried,  the  ship  weighed  anchor, 
spread  her  sails,  and  the  man  of  sorrows,  once  more 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  267 

a  lone  widower,  was  on  his  way  to  the  "  setting  sun." 
On  the  following  morning,  he  writes,  "  no  vestige  of 
the  island  was  discernable  in  the  dim  horizon.  For 
a  few  days,  in  the  solitude  of  my  cabin,  with  my 
poor  children  crying  around  me,  I  could  not  help 
abandonino^  mvself  to  heart-breakino-  sorrow.  But 
the  promises  of  the  gospel  came  to  my  aid,  and  faith 
stretched  her  view  to  the  bright  world  of  eternal 
life,  and  anticipated  a  happy  meeting  with  those 
beloved  beings,  whose  bodies  are  mouldering  at 
Amherst  and  St.  Helena." 

After  a  voyage  of  about  six  weeks  from  St.  Hel- 
ena, Mr.  Judson  landed  in  Boston,  on  the  15th  of 
October;  and  no  servant  of  God,  it  is  probable,  ever 
set  his  feet  on  these  shores,  whose  coming  caused  so 
many  bosoms  to  heave  with  high  and  holy  emotions.  / 
His  presence  was  like  the  genius  of  Christianity  in- 
carnate, and  the  tide  of  veneration  and  love  rose 
like  an  ocean,  heaving  its  sympathetic  waves  toward 
him,  and  experiencing  no  ebb  while  he  sojourned,  all 
too  briefly,  in  the  land.  The  homage  that  was  paid, 
wherever  he  went,  was  of  that  elevated  and  rational 
character,  which  springs  not  from  idolatrous  admira- 
tion of  the  man,  but  from  exuberant  gratitude  to  God 
for  the  wonders  He  had  wrought  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  a  single  missionary. 

In  the  evening  of  the  third  day  after  his  arrival, 
a  meeting  of  the  friends  of  missions  was  held  in  the 
Bowdoin  Square  Baptist  chm-ch,  and  the  gatherng 
on  the  occasion  was  immense,  and  the  scene  ti  :ly 
thrilling.    True,  BoUes,  and  Baldwin,  and  Staughl  »n, 


268  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

and  some  others,  with  whom  Mr.  Jiidson  had  corres- 
ponded from  tlie  opposite  side  of  the  globe,  but, 
with  whom  he  coidd  claim  no  personal  acquaint- 
ance, had  gone  to  heaven  to  welcome  him  there. 
Yet  one  venerable  man  was  present  to  whom  he 
had  addressed  many  a  communication,  and  who  was 
among  the  foremost  to  welcome  the  pioneer  mission- 
ary to  the  arms  of  the  Baptists,  and  to  pledge  him 
their  support ;  and  that  one  being  the  President  of 
the  Board,  was  designated,  with  double  propriety, 
to  introduce  the  scarred  veteran  of  a  jungle  warfare 
with  darkness,  to  the  thousands  who  were  impatient 
to  draw  near  and  gaze  upon  his  face  and  catch  even 
the  faintest  whisper  of  his  voice. — After  appropri- 
ate preliminary  services,  Kev.  Daniel  Sharp  rose, 
and,  in  behalf  of  the  friends  of  christian  missions, 
addressed  Mr.  Judson  as  follows : 

"  There  are  some  feelings  which  are  too  sacred 
for  public  utterance.  There  are  sentiments  of  re- 
spect and  regard,  which,  when  whispered  to  the  ear, 
or  spoken  in  the  privacy  of  confidential  intercourse, 
are  pleasant  and  refreshing  as  the  breath  of  spring, 
but  which  lose  their  fragrance  in  the  atmosphere  of 
a  public  assembly.  Were  I  to  express  my  own  feel- 
ings toward  yourself,  my  admiration,  my  confidence, 
my  gratitude,  my  regard,  I  should  say  many  things 
that  in  this  assembly  would  seem  out  of  place.  I 
may,  liowever,  without  violating  christian  propriety, 
speak  in  behalf  of  the  public,  in  the  presence  of  the 
public. 


OF    ADONIRATtf    JIJDSON.  269 

"  I  may  say,  without  the  seml)lance  of  flattery  or 
adulation,  the  denomination  have  cherished  a  deep, 
and  affectionate,  and  grateful  interest  in  your  labors ; 
they  have  wondered  at  your  steady  and  unfaltering 
perseverance ;  they  have  admired  your  disinterested 
and  self-denying  course ;  and  they  have  tenderly 
sympathized  with  you,  and  prayed  for  you,  when 
they  heard  of  your  personal  sufferings,  your  impris- 
onment, and  loss  of  personal  liberty ;  and  when  they 
have  heard  of  those  greater  losses  to  which,  in  the 
death  of  loved  and  cherished  ones,  you  have  been 
subjected.  And  they  have  rejoiced  with  you,  not 
indeed  that  all  your  work  was  done,  but  that  a 
glorious  work  was  done,  when,  in  humble  prostra- 
tion before  the  beneficent  Author  of  revelation,  you 
devoutly  thanked  Him  that  you  had  completed  the 
translation  of  the  holy  Scriptures  in  the  Burman  lan- 
guage. That  was  a  memorable  day,  not  only  in  the 
history  of  yom'  own  life,  but  in  the  history  of  missions. 

"  We  can  only  pray,  dear  brother,  that  after  a 
still  more  extended  and  critical  knowledge  of  the 
Burman  language,  the  result  of  patient  and  labori- 
ous study  and  research,  your  life  may  be  prolonged 
to  revise  and  amend  your  translation  of  those  soul- 
sanctifying  and  soul-comforting  truths,  which  tell 
wdth  wondrous  power  in  any  language  in  which  an 
accurate  version  of  them  is  given.  Your  prosecu- 
tion of  that  other  great  work,  to  which  your  mind, 
and  pen,  and  days  are  given — a  Burman  diction- 
ary— at  the  completion  of  which  you  may  well  rest 
from  your  labors,  will  aid  you  greatly  in  giving  your 


270  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

last  correcting  toiicli  to  the  Bnrman  Scriptures.  Our 
prayer  will  be,  in  submission  to  God's  will,  that  you 
may  live  until  you  have  sent  out  to  the  world  the 
volumes,  which  will  not  only  shed  their  radiant  light 
on  the  Scriptures,  but  will  quicken  and  elevate  the 
common  mind  of  India. 

"  And  now,  dear  brother,  withdrawn  as  you  have 
been,  by  afflictive  dispensation  of  Providence,  from 
your  chosen  and  loved  labors,  allow  me  to  say,  in 
behalf  of  your  ministerial  brethren  and  other  breth- 
ren and  friends — We  welcome  you  to  your  native 
land ;  we  welcome  you  to  the  scenes  of  your  early 
and  manly  youth ;  we  w^elcome  you  to  our  worship- 
ing assemblies  ;  we  welcome  you  to  our  hearts. 
As  the  representative  of  the  ministers  and  private 
christians  present,  I  give  to  you  this  hand  of  cordial 
welcome,  of  sympathy,  of  approbation,  and  of  love. 
And  I  believe,  could  all  our  denomination  be  col- 
lected in  one  vast  assembly,  they  would  require  and 
empower  some  one  to  perform  this  service  for  them, 
or  rather  each  one  would  prefer  to  give  this  signifi- 
cant token  of  love,  and  respect,  and  good  wishes,  for 
himself.  Were  it  jDOSsible,  and  could  your  strength 
hold  out,  and  your  hand  bear  the  grasp  and  the  cor- 
dial shake  of  so  many,  I  could  wish  that  every  one 
who  loves  the  Bible  and  missions,  might  be  his  own 
representative,  and  give  to  you,  as  I  do,  the  hand  of 
an  honest,  unchanging,  and  cordial  good  will." 

The  reader  will  recollect,  that  when  Mr.  Judson 
became  a  Baptist,  Rev.  Samuel  ]S"ott,  who  could  not 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  27l 

sympatliize  with  Lim  in  his  change  of  sentiment, 
paid  a  beautiful  tribute  to  his  sincerity  in  leaving 
the  Congregationalists,  and  to  his  piety  manifested 
in  taking  this  painful  step.  The  two  j)arted  in  India, 
more  than  thirty  years  before  this  date.  Mr.  Xott 
toiled  a  few  years  as  a  missionary  at  Bombay,  and 
was  then  obliged,  on  account  of  ill  health,  to  return 
home.  He  was  holding  the  pastoral  office  over  the 
Congregational  church  in  Wareham,  Massachusetts, 
when  Mr.  Judson  returned ;  and  hearing  of  his  arri- 
val, hastened  to  Boston,  reaching  the  city  just  in 
season  to  be  present  at  this  meeting.  After  Dr. 
Sharp  had  concluded  his  address,  while  a  hymn  was 
being  sung,  and  before  Mr.  Judson  had  left  the  pul- 
pit, Mr.  ]N'ott  hurried  up  the  aisle,  made  himself 
known  to  Mr.  Judson,  and  the  two  embraced  with  a 
fervor  of  feeling  rarely  witnessed  on  the  meeting 
of  christian  friends.  But,  with  all  their  joys,  how 
faintly  such  greetings  typify  the  meetings  of  the 
ransomed  and  the  recognizing,  in  the  upper  world ! ' 
After  the  dismissal  of  the  meeting,  many  in  the 
assembly  crowded  up  the  aisle,  and  pressed  the  hand 
of  him  for  whose  success  they  had  often  prayed,  and 
toward  whose  support  most  of  them  had,  doubtless, 
nobly  contributed. 

"  Welcome  to  thee  !  long  lapse  of  time 

Hath  come,  and  glanced,  and  gone  between. 
Since  thou  for  yonder  idol  clime 

A  wanderer  from  our  coasts  wast  seen 


272  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

On  these,  thy  native  shores,  to  men 
Who  bask  in  beams  of  living  light. 

Thou  'It  tell  of  those  beyond  its  ken  — 
Of  Burmah  's  millions  wrapt  in  night. 


"Welcome  to  thee  !  thou  wilt  not  leave 
The  god-like  embassy  undone  ; 

There  yet  are  fadeless  wreaths  to  weave. 
And  lofty  conquests  to  be  won." 


CHAPTEE   XXI. 


Mr.  Judson  at  the  Meeting  of  the  Convention  in  1845  —  Dr.  Wayland's  Address 
to  him  —  Interesting  Scene  in  the  Convention  —  Mr.  Judson's  Reception  at 
Richmond  —  Address  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Jeter  —  Mr.  Judson's  Private  Character  — 
He  marries  Miss  Chubbuck  —  Farewell  Services  in  Boston  —  Mr.  Judson*a 
Address. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Convention  was  held  in 
November,  1845,  in  the  Baptist  Tabernacle,  New 
York.  Mr.  Judson  was  present,*  and  the  following 
resolutions,  offered  by  Rev.  Spencer  II.  Cone,  were 
adopted  with  the  utmost  cordiality  and  unanimity : 

"  Resolved,  That  this  convention  regard,  as  a  spe- 
cial occasion  of  gratitude  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  that 
he  has  so  long  preserved  the  life  of  oiu'  senior  mission- 
ary, Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  and  has  strengthened 
him  to  perform  services  of  inestimable  value  for  the 
perishing  heathen. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  President  be  requested  to 
express   to   our  brother  Judson    assurances   of  the 

*  Messrs.  Kincaid  and  Abbott  -^i^ere  also  m  this  country,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  discussions  in  this  meeting  of  the  Convention. 
18 


274  THE   MISSIONARY    LABOIiS 

pleasure  with  whicli  we  welcome  liim  to  his  native 
land,  and  our  heartfelt  sympathy  with  him  in  the 
painful  circumstances  which  have  withdrawn  him, 
as  we  hope  only  for  a  season,  from  the  field  of  his 
missionary  labors." 

After  their  adoption.  Dr.  Cone  took  Mr.  Judson  by 
the  hand,  and  introduced  him  to  the  President,  Dr. 
Wayland,  in  these  words:  "I  present  you  '-Jesus 
Christ  '5  mtrn:''  "  The  President  then  addressed  Mr. 
Judson  as  follows : 

"It  is  with  no  ordinary  feelings,  my  beloved 
brother,  that  I  rise  to  discharge  the  duty  imposed 
upon  me,  by  the  resolution  which  you  have  this 
moment  heard.  My  own  heart  assures  me  that  lan- 
guage is  inadequate  to  express  the  sentiments  of  your 
brethren  on  the  present  occasion. 

"Thirty-three  years  since,  you,  and  a  few  other 
servants  of  the  Most  High  God,  relying  simply  upon 
his  promises,  left  your  native  land,  to  carry  the  mes- 
sage of  Christ  to  the  heathen.  You  were  the  first 
offering  of  the  American  churches  to  the  Gentiles. 
You  went  forth  amid  the  sneers  of  the  thoughtless, 
and  with  only  the  cold  and  reluctant  consent  of  your 
brethren.  The  general  voice  declared  your  under- 
taking to  be  fanatical,  and  those  who  cowered  under 
its  rebuke,  drew  back  from  you  in  alarm.  On 
the  voyage,  your  views  respecting  christian  ordi- 
nances became  changed,  and  this  change  gave  rise 
to  the  formation  of  the  convention  now  in  session 
before  you. 


OF  ADONIPwAM   JUDSON.  275 

"  When  at  length  jou  arrived  in  India,  more  for- 
midable obstacles  than  those  arising  from  paganism, 
were  thrown  in  your  path.  The  miglitiest  empire 
that  the  world  has  ever  seen,  forbade  every  attempt 
to  preach  Christ  to  the  countless  millions  subjected 
to  her  sway,  and  ordered  you  peremptorily  from  her 
shores.  Escaping  from  her  power,  you  took  refuge 
in  the  Isle  of  France,  and  at  last,  after  many  perils, 
arrived  at  Rangoon,  where,  out  of  the  reach  of  chris- 
tian power,  you  were  permitted  to  enter  upon  your 
labors  of  love. 

''After  years  of  toil,  you  were  able  to  preach 
Christ  to  the  Burmans,  and  men  began  to  inquire 
after  the  eternal  God.  The  intolerance  of  the  gov- 
ernment then  became  apparent,  and  you  proceeded 
to  Ava,  to  plead  tlie  cause  of  toleration  before  the 
emperor.  Your  second  attempt  was  successful,  and 
permission  was  granted  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the 
capital  itself  But  how  inscrutable  are  the  ways  of 
Providence.  Your  labors  had  but  just  commenced, 
when  a  British  army  took  possession  of  Hangoon,  and 
you  and  your  fellow-laborer,  the  late  Dr.  Price,  were 
cast  into  a  loathsome  dungeon  and  loaded  with 
chains.  For  nearly  two  years,  you  suifered  all  that 
barbarian  cruelty  could  inflict,  and  to  the  special 
interposition  of  God  alone,  it  is  to  be  ascribed,  that 
your  imprisonment  was  not  terminated  by  a  violent 
death.  On  you,  more  than  any  other  missionary  of 
modern  times,  has  been  conferred  the  distinction  of 
suffering  for  Christ.  Your  limbs  have  been  galled 
with  fetters,  and  you  have  tracked  with  bleeding  feet 


276  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

the  burning  sands  between  Ava  and  Amarapnra. 
With  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  you  may  say, 
'  Henceforth  let  no  man  trouble  me  —  I  bear  in  my 
body  the  marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus.'  Yet  even  here 
God  did  not  leave  you  comfortless.  He  had  pro- 
vided an  angel  to  minister  to  your  wants,  and  when 
her  errand  was  accomjDlished,  took  her  to  himself, 
and  the  Hopia  tree  marks  the  spot  whence  her  spirit 
ascended.  From  prison  and  from  chains,  God  in  his 
own  time  delivered  you,  and  made  your  assistance  of 
special  importance  in  negotiating  a  treaty  of  peace 
between  those  two  nations,  one  of  whom  had  driven 
you  from  her  shores,  and  the  other  had  inflicted  upon 
you  every  cruelty  but  death. 

"  Since  this  period,  the  prime  of  your  life  has  been 
spent  in  laboring  to  bless  the  people  who  had  so  bar- 
barously persecuted  you.  Almost  all  the  christian 
literature  in  their  language  has  proceeded  from  your 
pen ;  your  own  hand  has  given  to  a  nation  the  ora- 
cles of  God,  and  opened  to  the  millions  now  living, 
and  to  those  who  shall  come  after  them  to  the  end  of 
time,  the  door  of  everlasting  life.  That  mysterious 
Providence  which  shut  you  out  from  Burmah  Pro- 
per, has  introduced  you  to  the  Karens,  a  people  who 
seem  to  have  preserved,  from  remote  antiquity,  the 
]^owledge  of  the  true  God,  and  who  were  waiting 
to  receive  the  message  of  his  Son.  To  them  you, 
and  those  who  have  followed  in  your  footsteps,  have 
made  known  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  they, 
by  thousands,  have  flocked  to  the  standard  of  the 
cross. 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  277 

"  After  years  of  unremitted  toil,  the  Providence  of 
God  has  brought  you  to  be  present  with  us  at  this 
important  crisis.  We  sympathize  with  you  in  all 
the  sorrows  of  your  painful  voyage.  May  God  sus- 
tain you  in  your  sore  bereavement,  and  cause  even 
this  mysterious  dispensation  to  work  out  for  you  a 
far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 

"  How  changed  is  the  moral  aspect  of  the  world 
since  you  first  entered  upon  your  labors.  Then,  no 
pagan  nation  had  heard  the  name  of  Christ  from 
American  lips  ;  at  present,  churches  of  Christ  planted 
by  American  benevolence,  are  springing  up  in  almost 
every  heathen  nation.  The  shores  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean, the  islands  of  the  sea,  the  thronged  cities, 
and  the  wild  jungles  of  India,  are  resounding  with 
the  high  praises  of  God,  in  strains  first  taught  by 
American  missionaries.  The  nation  that  drove  you 
from  her  shores,  has  learned  to  foster  the  messenger 
of  the  cross  with  parental  solicitude.  You  return  to 
your  native  land,  w^hence  you  were  suffered  to  de- 
part almost  without  her  blessing,  and  you  find  that 
the  missionary  enterprise  has  kindled  a  flame  that 
can  never  be  quenched  in  the  heart  of  the  universal 
chm-ch,  and  that  every  christian  and  every  philanthro- 
pist comes  forward  to  tender  to  you  the  homage  due 
to  the  man  through  w^hose  sufferings,  labors,  and  ex- 
ample these  changes  have,  to  so  great  a  degree,  been 
effected.  In  behalf  of  our  brethren,  in  behalf  of  the 
whole  church  of  Christ,  we  w^elcome  you  back  to  the 
land  of  your  fathers.  God  grant  that  your  life  may 
long  be  preserved,  and  that  what  you  have  seen  may 


278  THE   MISSIONAKY  LABORS 

prove  to  be  but  the  beginning  of  blessing  to  our 
churches  at  home,  and  to  the  heathen  abroad." 

Mr.  Judson  had  been  forbidden  by  his  medical 
advisers,  to  speak  in  j^^^blic,  and,  in  reply  to  Dr. 
Wayland,  merely  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  uni- 
form and  marked  expressions  of  respect  and  kindness 
with  which  he  had  been  received  since  his  arrival 
in  his  native  land,  and  hoped  that  these  things  would 
tend  to  humble  him  and  make  him  more  assiduous 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  to  the  benighted. 

On  the  twenty-first,  the  third  day  of  the  Conven- 
tion, a  report  was  presented,  suggesting  that  possibly 
Arracan  would  have  to  be  abandoned,  when  Mr. 
Judson  rose,  and,  in  a  voice  audible  in  all  parts  of 
the  house,  said,  in  substance  :  "  Though  forbidden  by 
physicians  to  speak,  I  must  say  a  few  words.  I 
must  ]3rotest  against  the  abandonment  of  the  Arra- 
can mission."  He  then  presented  his  reasons  for  the 
mission's  continuance  ;  but  in  so  low  a  voice,  that  Dr. 
Cone  was  obliged  to  repeat  his  words  to  the  assem- 
bly. He  concluded  by  saying,  "  If  the  Convention 
think  my  services  can  be  dispensed  with,  in  finishing 
the  dictionary,  I  will  go  immediately  to  Arracan ;  or, 
if  God  should  spare  my  life  to  finish  my  dictionary, 
I  will  go  there  afterward,  and  labor  there,  and  die 
there,  and  he  hiiried  there  I  " 

The  thrilling  remarks  of  Mr.  Judson,  together 
with  others  in  a  similar  spirit  made  by  Messi-s.  Ab- 
bott, Kincaid,  and  two  or  three  other  gentlemen, 
drew  out  the  following  resolution,  which  was  offered 


OF   ADONIEA^I   JUDSON.  2T9 

by  Eev.  William  K.  Williams,   and  rnianimously 
adopted : 

"  Eesolved,  That,  in  the  indications  of  divine  Prov- 
idence, as  presented  by  the  remarkable  harmony  and 
the  reviving  hopes  of  the  brethren  here  met,  and  the 
flowing  together  of  all  hearts  in  the  baptism  of  one 
sjDirit,  this  Convention  find  themselves  compelled  to' 
abandon,  for  the  present  at  least,  all  thought  of  aban- 
doning or  abridging  their  missionary  stations ;  and 
that  our  Heavenly  Father  is  summoning  us  to  rein- 
force, and  even  to  enlarge  om-  operations,  in  fuller 
accordance  with  the  greatness  of  his  promises  and 
of  the  world's  necessities." 

Receptions  similar  to  those  in  Boston  and  I^ew 
York,  were  given  Mr.  Judson  in  Philadelphia,  Bal- 
timore, Washington,  Bichmond,  and  several  other 
places  ;  but  the  plan  of  this  work  would  not  admit 
of  their  details.  The  one  at  the  last  mentioned 
place,  however,  was  of  so  important  a  character,  and 
the  sentiment  of  so  many  minds  was  expressed,  that 
we  can  not  pass  over  it.  The  gathering  at  Rich- 
mond, February  8th,  1846,  was  a  mass  missionary 
meeting  of  members  of  "He  Southern  Missionary 
Convention,"  which  came  into  existence  in  1845, 
and  owed  its  origin  to  a  disagreement  of  sentiment 
between  Baptists  of  the  !North  and  South,  on  the 
question  of  slavery.  The  Acting  Board,  after  some 
correspondence  with  the  Alabama  State  Convention, 
and  in  reply  to  a  question  of  that  body,  declared 


280  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

that  "  if  any  one  should  offer  himself  as  a  mission- 
ary, having  slaves,  and  should  insist  on  retaining 
them  as  his  property,  they  could  not  appoint  him." 
This  declaration  caused  the  separate  organization  at 
the  South,  and  that  step  occasioned  the  special  meet- 
ing at  the  Baptist  Tabernacle,  and  the  change  of  the 
name  of  the  General  Convention  to  that  of  the 
"American  Baptist  Missionary  Union."  Each  organ- 
ization, it  is  proper  to  add,  has  since  been  engaged 
in  prosecuting  the  work  of  missions  in  its  chosen 
field,  in  the  most  peaceful  manner,  so  far  as  home 
relations  are  concerned,  and  with  gratifying  success. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Jeter,  being  president  of  the  Southern 
Board,  welcomed  Mr.  Judson  as  follows : 

"Mr.  Judson — I  address  you  on  behalf  of  the  For- 
eign Mission  Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Conven- 
tion in  Richmond,  and,  I  may  add,  of  the  whole 
Baj^tist  denomination  in  the  South.  The  service  is 
at  once  pleasing  and  painful ;  pleasing,  because  we 
had  scarcely  expected  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  see- 
ing your  face  and  grasping  your  hand  —  painful, 
because  your  want  of  voice  prevents  you  from 
imparting  to  us  the  instruction  and  encouragement 
which  you  are  well  qualified  to  communicate ;  and 
the  brevity  of  your  visit  will  make  the  pain  of  sep- 
aration almost  equal  to  the  pleasure  of  meeting. 

"  I  seize  the  present  opportunity  to  present  a  few 
remarks  ;  and  I  do  it  the  more  readily,  as  the  state 
of  your  health  does  not  permit  us  to  expect  many 
from  yourself. 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  281 

"  It  is  interesting  to  stand  at  the  head-spring  of  a 
great  river,  which,  traversing  a  continent,  spreads 
through  kingdoms  fertility,  and  all  the  blessings  of 
commerce.  The  position  awakens  emotions  of  sub- 
limity. It  can  not  be  less  interesting  and  insjjiring 
to  contemplate  events  which,  in  themselves  seeming- 
ly unimportant,  have  produced  momentous  results. 
To  such  an  event,  our  attention  is  drawn  by  your 
presence. 

"When  you  and  your  honored  associates,  IS'ott, 
Mills,  and  E'ewell,  presented  to  the  General  Asso- 
ciation of  Congregationalists  in  Massachusetts,  as- 
sembled at  Bradford  in  1810,  a  paper  expressing 
yom'  desire  to  engage  in  the  work  of  foreign  mis- 
sions, and  asking  their  advice  and  aid,  who  could 
have  anticipated  the  result  of  the  a]3plication  ?  At 
that  time  the  churches  were  slumbering  profoundly 
on  the  subject  of  missions  ;  there  were  no  mission- 
ary societies,  no  plans  matured  for  conducting  mis- 
sions, and  no  funds  collected  for  the  support  of 
missionaries. 

"The  application  originated  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.  A  noble  in- 
stitution it  is  —  superior  to  any  in  our  own  land,  and 
vying  in  the  wisdom  of  its  measures  and  the  success 
of  its  efforts,  with  the  best- ordered  and  most  re- 
nowned missionary  organizations  of  the  old  world. 
Its  annual  expenditure  is  not  far,  if  at  all,  short  of 
one-third  of  a  million  of  dollars ;  and  its  mission 
stations  have  dotted  almost  the  whole  extent  of 
heathendom. 


282  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

"  Under  the  patronage  of  this  Board,  after  consid- 
erable hesitation  and  delay  on  their  part,  you  em- 
barked, with  your  companion,  and  revered  associates, 
in  1812,  for  the  East.  On  your  arrival  there,  an 
event  occurred  deeply  affecting  your  own  course,  and 
the  cause  of  missions.  You,  Mrs.  Judson,  and  the 
lamented  Rice,  became  Baptists.  Whatever  may  be 
said  or  thought  of  the  change,  your  sincerity  in  mak- 
ing it  cannot  be  reasonably  called  in  question.  You 
abandoned  a  christian  denomination,  wealthy — with 
whose  members  you  were  intimately  acquainted — to 
whom  you  were  tenderly  attached,  and  from  whom 
you  expected  a  liberal  support,  and  connected  your- 
self with  one  comparatively  poor  —  to  whose  mem- 
bers you  were  a  stranger,  and  from  whom  you  had 
no  prospect  of  receiving  assistance.  The  hand  of 
God  was  in  it.  The  change  was  the  means  of  arous- 
ing, among  the  Baptists  of  the  United  States,  the 
missionary  spirit,  and  forming  the  Baptist  Triennial 
Convention,  under  whose  patronage  you  have  so  long 
labored. 

"  By  a  remarkable  train  of  events,  among  which 
was  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between  this  country 
and  Great  Britain  —  you  were  led,  or  rather  driven 
into  Burmah.  God  had  selected  that  field  for  you, 
and  designed  that  you  should  accomplish  a  great 
work  there. 

I  pass  over  the  story  of  your  toils  and  sufferings, 
your  chains  and  imprisonment,  and  the  almost  super- 
human fortitude  of  your  now  sainted  companion.  It 
is  familiar  to  every  American,  and,  indeed,  every 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  283 

christian  reader.  It  forms  an  essential  and  thrilling 
chapter  in  the  history  of  missions. 

"And  now,  my  brother,  to  say  nothing  of  what  has 
been  effected  by  the  missionaries  of  the  Baptist  Tri- 
ennial Convention,  among  the  aborigines  of  Amer- 
ica, in  France,  in  Germany,  in  Denmark,  in  Greece, 
in  Africa,  in  China,  in  Siam,  in  Hindostan,  in  Assam, 
behold,  what  a  change  God  hath  wrought  in  Bur- 
mah,  and  in  the  contiguous  provinces !  The  Bible 
has  been  translated  in  the  Burman  language,  care- 
fully revised,  printed,  put  into  circulation,  and  read 
by  thousands  !  We  watched  with  intense  interest  the 
progress  of  the  translation.  We  prayed  that  your  life 
might  be  spared  to  complete  it  We  saw  you  when, 
having  finished  the  last  leaf  of  the  precious  volume, 
you  took  it  in  yom^  hand,  and  bowing  beside  your 
desk,  gave  thanks  to  God  that  he  had  enabled  you  to 
accomplish  the  work.  To  that  thanksgiving  we  sub- 
joined our  hearty  amen !  In  that  land,  so  recently 
enveloped  in  the  darkness  of  heathenism,  chm-ches 
have  been  founded,  to  worship  the  name,  and  keep 
the  ordinances  of  Jesus.  Native  preachers  have 
been  raised  up  to  proclaim  in  their  own  tongue,  and 
among  their  own  countrymen,  '  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ.'  The  Karens,  a  simple-hearted  and 
singular  people,  are  turning  by  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands to  the  Lord.  Among  them,  the  gospel  has  had 
a  success  rarely  equaled  since  the  days  of  the  apos- 
tles. On  Burmah,  '  the  morning  light  is  breaking.' 
The  time  to  favor  her  has  fully  come. 

"  We  cannot  penetrate  futurity.    I  pretend  not  to 


284  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

be  skilled  in  prophetic  interpretation.  But  in  the 
next  half  century,  we  may  anticipate  great  accessions 
to  Christianity.  "We  found  our  hope  on  past  success. 
Wherever  the  gospel  has  been  preached,  plainly  and 
faithfully,  from  the  equator  to  the  poles,  among  civil- 
ized or  savage  men,  it  has  been  the  "power  of  God 
unto  salvation."  The  success  of  the  missionary  en- 
terprise, has  everywhere  corresponded,  in  a  remark- 
able manner,  with  the  measures  of  abilityj  zeal,  and 
diligence  employed  in  its  prosecution.  We  base  our 
expectation  on  the  increasing  prevalence  of  the  mis- 
sionary spirit.  When,  more  than  half  a  century 
ago,  the  work  of  foreign  missions  commenced  among 
the  Anglo-Saxon  christians,  led  on  by  the  immortal 
Carey,  it  was  predicted  that  its  advocates  would  soon 
grow  weary,  and  relax  their  efforts.  The  prediction 
has  not  been  fulfilled.  At  no  previous  period  has  it 
been  so  much  the  settled  policy  and  purpose  of  the 
churches,  to  make  efforts  and  sacrifices  in  the  work 
of  evangelizing  the  world,  as  it  is  now.  And,  above 
all,  we  found  our  hope  on  the  divine  promises.  Un- 
less we  have  misconceived  their  import,  they  point 
to  a  time  of  greater  light,  purity,  and  triumph  in  the 
church,  than  the  world  has  yet  seen.  This  sin-dark- 
ened earth  is  to  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
glory  of  God.  From  the  rising  of  the  sun,  even 
unto  the  going  down  of  the  same,  the  name  of  Christ 
shall  be  great  among  the  Gentiles,  and  in  every  place 
incense  shall  be  offered  unto  His  name,  and  a  pure 
offering. 

"  Henceforth,  my  brother,  you  and  we  shall  labor 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  285 

in  connection  with  different  Boards.  Events  which 
neither  you  nor  we  could  control,  produced  the  sepa- 
ration ;  and  God,  we  trust,  will  overrule  it  for  good. 
One  thing  is  certain :  the  southern  Baptists  have  no 
thought  of  abandoning  the  missionary  field.  We 
are  buckling  on  our  armor,  and  marshaling  our  hosts 
for  a  fiercer  onset  on  the  powers  of  darkness  than  we 
have  yet  made.  We  have  selected  China  as  oui 
battle-field  —  a  vast,  interesting,  and  inviting  field  i1 
is.  It  contains  one -half,  if  not  two-thirds  of  the 
heathen  population  of  the  globe.  The  wall,  which, 
for  centuries,  presented  an  insuperable  barrier  to 
the  introduction  of  Christianity,  has  recently  been 
leveled  with  the  dust,  and  the  banner  of  the  cross 
now  floats  in  triumph  in  Canton. 

''  But  I  must  close  my  remarks.  Brother  Judson, 
we  are  acquainted  with  your  history.  We  have 
marked  your  labors — have  sympathized  in  your 
various  sufferings  —  have  shed  many  a  tear  at  the 
foot  of  the  '  Hopia-tree," — have  gone,  in  fancy,  on 
mournful  pilgrimage  to  the  rocky  island  of  St.  Hel- 
ena—  have  rejoiced  in  your  successes,  and  the  suc- 
cesses of  your  devoted  associates  —  and  have  long 
and  fervently  wished  to  see  your  face  in  the  flesh. 
This  privilege  we  now  enjoy.  Welcome,  thrice 
welcome,  are  you,  my  brother,  to  our  city  —  our 
churches  —  our  bosoms.  I  speak  as  the  representa- 
tive of  southern  Baptists.  We  love  you  for  the 
truth's  sake,  and  for  your  labors  in  the  cause  of 
Christ.  We  honor  you  as  the  father  of  American 
missions. 


286  THE   ^aSSIONAEY   LABORS 

"  One  thought  pains  iis.  To-morrow  morning  jou 
leave  us.  We  shall  see  yom'  face  no  more.  You 
will  soon  return  to  Bnrmah,  the  land  of  your  adop- 
tion. There  3^ou  will  continue  jour  toils,  and  there, 
probal)ly,  be  buried.  But  this  separation  is  not 
without  its  solace.  Thank  God !  it  is  as  near  from 
Eurmah  to  heaven,  as  from  Kichmond,  or  any  other 
point  on  the  globe.  Angels,  oft  commissioned  to 
convey  to  heaven  the  departing  spirits  of  pious  Bur- 
mans  and  Karens,  have  learned  the  way  to  that  dark 
land.  When  dismissed  from  your  toils  and  suffer- 
ings, they  will  be  in  readiness  to  perform  the  same 
service  for  you.  God  grant  that  we  may  all  meet 
in  that  bright  world.  There  sin  shall  no  more  an- 
noy us,  separations  no  more  pain  us,  and  every 
power  find  full  and  sweet  employ  in  the  service  of 
Christ! 

"And  now,  my  brother,  I  give  my  hand  in  token 
of  affection  to  you,  and  of  your  cordial  reception 
among  us." 

The  visit  of  Mr.  Judson  to  this  country  brought 
him  in  contact  with  his  warmest  friends,  and  re- 
vealed to  them  beautiful  traits  of  his  character,  for 
which  they  would,  otherwise,  probably  never  have 
given  him  full  credit.  He  had  heretofore  been  seen 
at  a  distance,  and  only  in  his  public  capacity  ;  now 
he  was  viewed  with  all  the  microscopic  advantages 
/  of  domestic  intercourse ;  and  the  graces  of  child- 
like simplicity,  confidence,  sympathy,  and  affection, 
"bound  him  still  closer  to  the  hearts  of  those  who  had 


OF    ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  287 

long  been  accustomed  to  contemplate  and  admire  the  / 
mountain  majesty  and  sternness  of  his  missionary  / 
life.  "  His  heart,"  writes  Dr.  Hague,  whose  inter- 
course with  him  was  intimate,  "  was  a  well-spring  of 
tender  affections,  his  eye  took  within  its  scope  the 
whole  wide  range  of  human  relationships,  and  he 
was  sensitively  alive  to  the  happiness  of  all  around 
him.  In  this  respect,  he  resembled  his  divine 
Master,  who,  while  on  earth,  although  he  was  em- 
ployed in  a  mission  that  involved  the  eternal  destinies 
of  a  fallen  race,  could  find  congenial  joys  in  the 
friendship  of  Martha,  Mary,  and  Lazarus,  and  who, 
amidst  the  agonies  of  the  cross,  could  commend  the 
temporal  w^eltare  of  his  mother  to  'that  disciple 
whom  he  loved.' 

"  The  soul,"  the  same  writer  adds,  "  reveals  itself 
not  only  in  words,  but  in  the  tones  of  the  voice,  in 
the  animated  countenance,  in  the  kindling  eye,  in 
every  feature,  in  every  movement.  Although  it 
may  not  be  safe  to  judge  of  men  by  the  outward 
appearanco  merely,  yet  there  are  signs  of  character 
which  are  seldom  mistaken,  which  no  art  can  coun- 
terfeit, and  which  make  impressions  that  we  can 
neither  resist  nor  erase.  And  no  one,  probably,  has 
been  permitted  to  enjoy  Mr.  Judson's  society,  and 
especially  to  kneel  with  him  while  conducting  the 
worship  of  a  family,  who  has  not  left  his  presence 
with  some  new  conviction  of  the  depth  of  his  piety, 
of  the  breadth  of  his  philanthropy,  of  his  child-like 
humility  as  a  christian,  and  of  his  real  greatness  as 


288  THE   MISSIONARY  LABORS 

AYhile  in  this  country,  Mr.  Judson  was  desirous 
of  securing  the  services  of  some  one  to  write  the 
memoirs  of  his  second  wife,  and  was  directed  to 
Miss  Emily  Chubbuck,  of  Utica,  New  York.  She 
had  written  three  or  four  valuable  Sabbath-school 
books,  and  gained  a  high  reputation  in  th-e  field  of 
periodical  literature.  The  acquaintance  which  Mr. 
Judson  formed  with  her,  resulted  in  their  union, 
which  took  place  on  the  2d  of  June,  18-i6. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  same  month,  the  farewell 
services,  preparatory  to  their  departure  for  Burmah, 
were  performed  in  the  Baldwin  Place  Baptist  church, 
of  Boston.  The  exercises  preliminary  to  Mr.  Judson's 
address  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Messrs.  R.  H.  Neale, 
H.  J.  Ripley,  and  Baron  Stow.  After  the  last  men- 
tioned gentleman  had  delivered  an  eloquent  address 
to  the  Judsons,  and  other  missionaries,  who  were  to 
accompany  them,  Mr.  Judson  spoke  as  follows : 

"  My  friends  are  aware,  that  it  is  quite  impossible 
for  me,  without  serious  injury  to  myself,  to  sustain 
my  voice  at  such  a  height  as  to  reach  this  large 
assembly,  except  for  a  few  sentences.  I  have  there- 
fore taken  the  liberty  of  putting  some  thoughts  on 
paper,  which  Rev.  Mr.  Hague  will  do  me  the  honor 
of  reading  to  you. 

"  I  wish,  however,  in  my  own  voice,  to  praise  God 
for  the  deep  interest,  in  the  cause  of  missions,  man- 
ifested by  the  friends  of  the  Redeemer  in  this  city 
and  tnc  vicinity,  and  to  thank  them  for  all  their 
expressions  and  acts  of  kindness  toward  me,  during 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  289 

my  brief  sojourn  among  tliem.  I  regret  that  cir- 
cumstances have  prevented  mj  spending  more  time 
in  this  city,  and  of  forming  a  more  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  those,  whom  a  slight  acquaintance 
has  taught  me  so  much  to  love. 

"  It  is  as  certain  as  any  future  event  can  be,  that 
I  shall  never  again  revisit  the  shores  of  my  native 
land;  that,  after  a  few  days,  your  beautiful  city, 
this  great  and  glorious  country,  will  be  forever  shut 
from  my  view.  No  more  shall  I  enter  your  places 
of  worship ;  no  more  shall  I  behold  your  faces,  and 
exchange  the  affectionate  salutations  of  christian  love. 

"  The  greatest  favor  we  can  bestow  on  our  absent 
friends,  is  to  bear  them  on  our  hearts  at  the  throne 
of  grace.  I  pray  you,  dear  friends,  remember  me 
there, —  and  my  missionary  associates,  and  our  in- 
fant churches,  and  the  poor  heathen  among  whom 
we  go  to  live.  And  though  we  do  meet  no  more  on 
earth,  I  trust  that  our  next  meeting  will  be  in  that 
blessed  world,  where  '  the  loved  and  the  parted  here 
below,  meet  ne'er  to  part  again.'  " 

These  words,  which  were  uttered  with  deep  e no- 
tion, were  distinctly  heard  by  all  the  assembly.  The 
modestly  termed  "  thoughts,"  to  which  he  referred, 
and  which  were  read  by  the  gentleman  designated, 
are  as  follows : 

"  There  are  periods  in  the  lives  of  men,  who  expe- 
rience much  change  of  scene  and  variety  of  adven- 
ture, when  they  seem  to  themselves  to  be  subject  to 
19 


290  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

some  supernatural  illusion,  or  wild,  magical  dream ; 
when  tliey  are  ready,  amid  the  whirl  of  conflicting 
recollections,  to  doubt  their  own  personal  identity, — 
and,  like  steersmen  in  a  storm,  feel  that  they  must 
keep  a  steady  eye  to  the  compass,  and  a  strong 
arm  at  the  wheel.  The  scene  spread  out  before 
me,  seems,  on  retros2:>ection,  to  be  identified  with 
the  past,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  reaching 
forward  and  foreshadowing  the  future.  At  one  mo- 
ment, the  lapse  of  thirty-four  years  is  annihilated ; 
the  scenes  of  1812  are  again  present;  and  this  as- 
sembly— how  like  that  which  commended  me  to 
God,  on  first  leaving  my  native  shores  for  the  dis- 
tant East.  But,  as  I  look  around,  where  are  the 
well-known  faces  of  Spring,  and  Worcester,  and 
Dwight  ?  Where  are  Lyman,  and  Huntington,  and 
Grifiin  ?  And  where  are  those  leaders  of  the  bap- 
tized ranks,  who  stretched  out  their  arms  across 
the  water,  and  received  me  into  their  communion  ? 
Where  are  Baldwin  and  Bolles?  where  Holcombe, 
and  Rogers,  and  Staughton?  I  see  them  lot.  I  have 
been  to  their  temples  of  worship,  but  their  voices 
have  passed  away.  And  where  are  mv  early  mis- 
si  ."^nary  associates — JSTewell,  and  Hall,  and  Hice,  and 
llichards,  and  Mills?  But  why  inquire  for  those  so 
ancient?  Where  are  the  succeeding  laborers  in  the 
missionary  field  for  many  years  ;  and  the  intervening 
generation,  v^^ho  sustained  the  missions  ?  And  where 
are  those  who  moved  amid  the  dark  scenes  of  Ran- 
goon, and  Ava,  and  Tavoy?  Where  those  gentle, 
yet  firm  spirits,  which  tenanted  forms, —  delicate  in 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUDsOl^.  291 

strnctm-e,  but  careless  of  the  storm — now  broken, 
and  scattered,  and  strewn,  like  the  leaves  of  au- 
tumn, under  the  shadow  of  overhanging  trees,  and 
on  remote  islands  of  the  sea. 

"E'o;  these  are  not  the  scenes  of  1S12,  nor  is 
this  the  assembly  that  convened  in  the  Tabernacle 
of  a  neighboring  city.  Many  years  Tiave  elapsed; 
many  venerated,  many  beloved  ones  have  passed 
away  to  be  seen  no  more.  'They  rest  from  their 
labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.'  And  with 
what  words  shall  I  address  those  who  have  taken 
their  places,  the  successors  of  the  venerated  and  the 
beloved  —  the  generation  of  1812? 

"  In  that  year,  American  christians  pledged  tliem- 
selves  to  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  world.  They 
had  but  little  to  rest  on  except  the  command  and 
promise  of  God.  The  attemj)ts  then  made  by  Brit- 
ish christians  had  not  been  attended  w^th  so  much 
success,  as  to  establish  the  practicability,  or  vindi- 
cate the  wisdom  of  the  missionary  enterprise.  For 
many  years,  the  work  advanced  but  slowly.  One 
denomination  after  another  embarked  in  the  under- 
taking ;  and  now  American  missionaries  are  seen 
in  almost  every  land  and  every  clime.  Many  lan- 
guages have  been  acquired ;  many  translations  of 
the  Bible  have  been  made ;  the  gospel  has  been  ex- 
tensively preached;  and  churches  have  been  estab- 
lished containing  thousands  of  sincere,  intelligent 
converts.  The  obligation,  therefore,  on  the  present 
generation,  to  redeem  the  pledge  given  by  their 
fathers  is  greatly  enhanced.     And  it  is  an  animating 


THE  MISSIONARY   LABORS 

consideration,  that  with  the  enhancement  of  the 
obligation,  the  encouragement  to  persevere  in  the 
work,  and  to  make  still  greater  efforts,  are  increas- 
ing from  year  to  year.  Judging  from  the  past,  what 
may  we  rationally  expect,  during  the  lapse  of  an- 
other thirty  or  forty  years  ?  Look  forward  with  the 
eye  of  faith.  See  the  missionary  spirit  universally 
diffused,  and  in  active  operation  throughout  this 
country, —  every  church  sustaining,  not  only  its  own 
minister,  but,  through  some  general  organization,  its 
own  missionary  in  a  foreign  land.  See  the  Bible 
faithfully  translated  into  all  languages, — the  rays  of 
the  lamp  of  heaven  transmitted  through  every  me- 
dium, and  illuminating  all  lands.  See  the  Sabbath 
spreading  its  holy  calm  over  the  face  of  the  earth, — 
the  churches  of  Zion  assembling,  and  the  praises  of 
Jesus  resounding  from  shore  to  shore ;  and,  though 
the  great  majority  may  still  remain,  as  now  in  this 
christian  country,  without  hope  and  without  God  in 
this  world,  yet  the  barriers  in  the  way  of  the  descent 
and  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit  removed,  so  that 
revivals  of  religion  become  more  constant  and  more 
powerful. 

"  The  world  is  yet  in  its*  infancy ;  the  gracious 
designs  of  God  are  yet  hardly  developed.  Glorious 
things  are  spoken  of  Zion,  the  city  of  our  God.  She 
is  yet  to  triumph,  and  become  the  joy  and  glory  of 
the  whole  earth.  Blessed  be  God,  that  we  live  in 
these  latter  times — the  latter  times  of  the  reign  of 
darkness  and  imposture.  Great  is  our  privilege,  pre- 
cious our  opportunity,  to  cooperate  with  the  Saviour 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  293 

in  the  blessed  work  of  enlarging  and  establishing 
his  kingdom  throughout  the  world.  Most  precious 
the  opportunity  of  becoming  wise,  in  turning  many  to 
righteousness,  and  of  shining,  at  last,  as  the  bright- 
ness of  the  firmament,  and  as  the  stars,  forever  and 
ever. 

"  Let  us  not,  then,  regret  the  loss  of  those  who 
have  gone  before  us,  and  are  waiting  to  welcome  us 
home,  nor  shrink  from  the  summons  that  must  call 
us  thither.  Let  us  only  resolve  to  follow  them  who 
through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises. 
Let  us  so  em23loy  the  remnant  of  life,  and  so  pass 
away,  as  that  our  successors  will  say  of  us,  as  we 
of  our  predecessors,  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die 
in  the  Lord.  They  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them.'  " 


CHAPTEK    XXII. 

Mr.  and  Mrs,  Judson  embark  for  Burmah  —  Messrs.  Beecher  and  Harris,  and 
Miss  Lillybridge  accompany  ihem  — Changes  at  Maulmain  —  Growth  of  tho 
Churches  there  —  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  repair  to  Rangoon  —  State  of  Civil  and 
Religious  Matter.=i  in  Burmah  Proper — Return  lo  Maulmain  —  Arrival  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moore  — Newton  and  Maulmain  Stations. 

The  time  had  now  arrived  for  Mr.  Judson-s  de- 
parture. He  had  visited  his  natal  home,  and  expe- 
rienced the  resurrection  of  buried  memories  ;  he  had 
stood  and  wept  within  the  old  Tabernacle,  at  Salem, 
where,  thirty-four  years  before,  he  had  been  ordained 
to  a  work  which  has  no  rival  in  moral  grandeur,  and 
in  which  God  had,  through  him,  honored  the  chris- 
tian name ;  and  he  had  traversed  his  native  land, 
and  been  received,  in  many  places,  with  an  enthusi- 
asm truly  inspiring,  and  far  more  noble  than  that 
ever  excited  by  the  return  of  any  victorious  warrior 
that  ever  rallied  his  hosts  around  the  eagles  of  Kome : 
but  nothing  could  tempt  him  to  tarry  on  these  shores. 
The  faintest  whisper  of  duty  was  sweeter  than  the 
thunders  of  human  applause, —  and,  heard  over  all, 
beckoned  him  away. 

On  the  11th  of  July,  1846,  he  who  went  down  to 
the  Caravan,  in  1812,  silently   and  almost  alone, 


ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  295 

keeping  time  to  the  solemn  beat  of  his  own  un- 
cheered  heart,  was  accompanied  to  the  ship  Fan- 
ueil  Hall,  which  lay  at  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
Boston,  by  a  band  of  sympathizing  fi-iends,  and  was 
greeted  at  the  dock  by  hundreds,  some  of  whom  had 
stood  there  for  hours,  in  the  burning  sun,  to  catch 
another  and  the  last  look  of  the  eloquent  apostle, 
whose  inspired  rhetoric,  winging  the  arrows  of  truth, 
and,  resounding  through  the  jungle,  had,  by  the  help 
of  the  Spirit,  lain  many  a  champion  of  Gaudama  pros- 
trate at  the  feet  of  Jesus.  A  prayer  is  offered ;  a  hymn 
is  sung ;  the  ship  weighs  anchor,  and  a  fresh  breeze, 
the  favoring  breath  of  heaven,  bears  the  venerated  sol- 
dier of  the  cross  from  the  sight  of  his  weeping  friends. 

In  company  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson,  were  Rev. 
Messrs.  John  S.  Beecher  and  Gorman  Harris,  their 
wives,  and  Miss  Lydia  Lillybridge,  they  having  been 
previously  set  apart  to  the  work  of  missions.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Beecher  were  bound  to  Arracan;  the  rest 
to  Maulmain.  Miss  Lillybridge  was  to  labor  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  in  the  Burman  department ; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  in  the  Karen.  They  all  arrived 
at  Maulmain  on  the  5th  of  December. 

During  Mr.  Judson's  absence  an  infant  son  had 
died,  and  some  other  changes  had  taken  place. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Osgood  had  withdrawn  from  the 
mission   on    account   of   ill    health  f    Mr.   Simons 


*  The  latter,  who  was  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Osgood,  died  at  Wy- 
oming, New  York,  July  13th,  1849.  When  married  to  Mr.  Osgood, 
she  was  the  widow  of  Rev.  Jacob  Thomas,  who  was  killed  by  the 
fall  of  a  tree,  on  his  way  up  the  Brahmaputra,  to  Assam. 


296  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

had  temporarily  left,  on  a  visit  to  this  country ;  and 
Mr,  Stilson  had  removed  to  Maulmain  from  Akyab 
to  take  Mr.  Osgood's  place  as  mission  treasurer. 
The  last  gentleman  was  assisting  Mr.  Stevens  in  the 
Burman  theological  school,  and  also  in  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Burman  church,  which  had  devolved  on 
Mr.  Stevens,  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Judson.  Mr.  Ran- 
ney  was  there,  acting  as  depositary,  as  well  as  printer. 

The  churches  connected  with  the  Maulmain  mis- 
sion—  twenty -six  in  number,  including  those  of 
Rangoon  and  Bassein — had  been,  as  a  whole,  highly 
favored  during  Mr.  Judson's  absence.  The  thirty- 
third  annual  report  of  the  Missionary  Union,  being 
for  May,  1847,  records  fourteen  hundred  baptisms  as 
the  fruit  of  the  previous  year's  efforts.*  The  num- 
ber of  communicants  in  these  churches  had  swelled 
to  four  thousand  and  eight  hundred,  and  embraced 
about  half  of  the  whole  number,  connected  with  the 
one  hundred  and  eight  or  ten  churches  belonging  to 
the  sixteen  missions  then  supported  by  the  Union. 

While  Mr.  Judson  was  in  this  country,  the  am- 
bitious and  sanguinary  emperor,  Tharawaddy,  who 
had  usurped  the  throne  nine  or  ten  years  before, 
was  driven  therefrom  by  his  own  ministers ;  and  Mr. 
Judson  repaired  to  Rangoon  shortly  after  reaching 
Maulmain,  in  order  to  ascertain  tlie  feelings  of  the 
new  government  toward  the  christian  religion.  He 
discovered  that  the  king  was  far  from  being  indifferent 

*  Most  of  these  were  Karens.  During  the  last  half  of  the  year  1846, 
something  like  one  thousand  were  added  to  the  Karen  churches,  in  the 
Rangoon  region. 


OF   ADONIKAM  JUDSON.  297 

to  the  influence  of  foreigners;  but,  thinking  that 
possibly  a  footing  might  once  more  be  obtained  in 
the  empire,  he  returned  to  Maulmain  for  Mrs.  Jud- 
son,  whom  he  removed  to  his  original  home  in  the 
empire,  in  February. 

Eangoon  was  now  the  only  city  in  Burmah 
Proper,  in  which  foreigners  were  permitted  to  re- 
side; and  the  state  of  things  there,  religious  and 
political,  is  presented  in  the  following  communica- 
tion, dated  March  28, 1847: 

"  I  have  just  returned  from  baptizing  a  Burman 
convert,  in  the  same  tank  of  water  where  I  baptized 
the  first  Bm-man  convert,  Moung  Nau,  twenty-eight 
years  ago.  It  is  now  twenty-five  years  since  I  ad- 
ministered baptism  in  Eangoon,  the  few  converts 
that  have  been  made  during  that  period  being  gen- 
erally baptized  by  the  native  pastor.  My  time  has 
been  mostly  spent  in  Maulmain,  where,  having  been 
instrumental,  with  others,  of  raising  up  a  few  Bur- 
mese and  Karen  churches,  I  have  left  them,  since 
my  return  from  America,  in  the  care  of  my  dear  and 
excellent  missionary  brethren,  and  am  now  making  a 
small  attempt  once  more  in  Burmah  Proper. 

"  The  attempt,  however,  is  made  under  very  dis- 
couraging circumstances.  The  present  administra- 
tion of  government,  though  rather  more  friendly  to 
foreigners,  is  more  rigidly  intolerant  than  that  of  the 
late  king  Tharawaddy.  Any  known  attempt  at 
proselyting  would  be  instantly  amenable  at  the 
criminal  tribunal,  and  would  probably  be  punished 


298  THE   MISSIONARY  LABORS 

by  the  imprisonment  or  death  of  the  proselyte,  and 
the  banishment  of  the  missionary.  The  governor  of 
this  place  has  received  me  favorably,  not  as  a  mis- 
sionary, (though  he  well  knows,  from  old  acquaint- 
ance, that  that  is  my  character,)  but  as  a  minister  of 
a  foreign  religion,  ministering  to  foreigners  resident 
in  the  place,  and  a  dictionary  maker,  '  laboring  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  both  countries.'  Our  mis- 
sionary efforts,  therefore,  being  conducted  in  private, 
must  necessarily  be  very  limited.  It  is,  however,  a 
precious  privilege  to  be  allowed  to  welcome  into  a 
private  room  a  small  company,  j)erhaps  two  or  three 
individuals  only,  and  pour  the  light  of  truth  into 
their  immortal  souls  —  souls,  that,  but  for  the  effi- 
cacy of  that  light,  would  be  covered  with  the  gloom 
of  darkness  —  darkness  to  be  felt  to  all  eternity. 

"Another  discouraging  circumstance  is  the  very 
low  state  of  the  Burman  church  in  this  place.  There 
are  about  twenty  nominal  members  still  surviving  ; 
but  they  are  much  scattered,  and  not  half  of  them 
appear  to  be  living  members.  I  have,  therefore, 
been  making  an  attempt  to  reorganize  the  church, 
and  have  found  four  individuals  who  have  united 
with  myself  and  wife  in  renewing  our  church  cove- 
nant, and  establishing  a  new  church.  We  have,  this 
day,  received  one  new  member,  and  we  hope  to  find 
a  few  more  of  the  old  members,  who  will  come  up 
to  our  standard." 

Further  extracts  from  his  communications  while 
at    Eangoon,   will    show   the   disposition  of   "the 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  299 

heathen  "  to  "  rage,"  and  the  infeasibility  of  effecting, 
just  then,  the  reestablishment  of  the  missions  at 
Rangoon  and  Ava*. 

"May  20,  1847.— This  is  the  first  Lord's  day  on 
which  I  have  had  no  regular  worship.  A  private 
order  of  government  was  issued  day  before  yester- 
day, to  have  the  house  I  occupy  watched  by  police 
officers,  in  order  to  apprehend  any  who  might  be 
liable  to  the  charge  of  favoring  "Jesus  Christ's  re- 
ligion." Seasonable  information  was  communicated 
to  me  and  the  disciples,  by  friends  at  court,  so  that 
they  have  all  escaped  for  the  present.  ]N^one  came 
near  me,  except  two  from  the  country;  and  with 
them,  I  had  a  very  interesting  and  affecting  time, 
in  a  private  room ;  and  they  got  off  undiscovered. 
I'our  Karen  lads,  who  had  been  waiting  for  a  pas- 
sage to  Maulmain,  decamped  before  light  this  morn- 
ing, for  their  native  jungle. 

"  The  vice-governor  of  the  place,  who,  indeed,  is 
the  acting  governor  at  present,  is  the  most  ferocious, 
blood-thirsty  monster,  I  have  ever  known  in  Bm'- 
mah.  It  is  said  that  his  house  and  court-yard  re- 
sound, day  and  night,  with  the  screams  of  people 
under  torture.  Even  foreigners  are  not  beyond  his 
grasp.  He  lately  wreaked  his  rage  on  some  Arme- 
nians and  Mussulmen ;  and  one  of  the  latter  class 
died  in  the  hands  of  a  subordinate  officer.  His  crime 
was  quite  a  venial  one ;  but,  in  order  to  extort  money, 
he  was  tortured  so  barbarously  that  the  blood  streamed 
from  his  mouth,  and  he  was  dead  in  an  hour. 


300  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

"  I  am  afraid,  that,  while  the  present  monster  is  in 
power,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  convene  the  disciples 
for  worship,  as  hitherto.  He  is,  however,  only  acting 
on  the  orders  which  are  understood  to  be  in  force  all 
over  the  country,  proscriptive  of  the  christian  reli- 
gion. I  feel  the  blow  most  deeply,  for  I  had  just 
succeeded  in  reorganizing  a  little  church,  out  of  old 
materials  and  some  lately  baptized,  amounting  in 
number  to  eleven,  nearly  all  purely  Burmese ;  and 
last  Sunday  I  had  an  assembly  of  above  twenty. 
Several  new  ones  were  expected  to-day ;  and  two 
would  probably  have  been  baptized.  I  had  become 
so  attached  to  the  little  church  and  assembly,  and  so 
glad,  on  every  returning  Lord's  day,  to  lay  aside 
my  tedious  dictionary  labors,  and  spend  all  the  day 
in  obtaining  and  communicating  spiritual  refresh- 
ment, that  the  present  interruption  seems  almost  too 
hard  to  bear.  However,  I  hope  to  do  something 
yet,  in  private,  to  aid  a  few  perishing  souls,  who  are 
struggling  through  darkness  and  terror,  to  find  a 
way  of  escape  from  the  more  dread  darkness  and 
terror  of  eternal  death.  But  everything  must  be 
done  in  private.  Not  even  a  tract  can  be  given 
publicly.  That  point  I  ascertained  a  few  years  ago, 
on  a  visit  to  the  place,  which,  I  believe,  I  never 
mentioned  in  writing  home.  In  order  to  test  the 
real  extent  and  efficacy  of  the  king's  order,  prohibit- 
ing the  distribution  of  books  at  Ava,  I  opened  a  box 
of  tracts  in  the  front  part  of  the  house  where  I  was 
a  guest  for  a  few  days.  The  people  took  them  greed- 
ily ;  bat  in  less  than  an  hour,  my  assistant,  Ko  En, 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  301 

was  arrested  and*  placed  in  confinement.  It  cost  me 
a  great  deal  to  get  him  free  ;  and  when  he  was  re- 
leased, it  was  on  condition  that  he  would  give  no 
more  tracts.  This  time,  therefore,  I  brought  no  tracts 
for  distribution,  and  have  confined  myself  to  private 
conversation,  except  convening  an  assembly  for  wor- 
ship,—  and  that  in  an  'upper  room,' — every  Lord's 
day. 

"June  6.  Lord's  day. — j^o  formal  worship  ;  but  a 
fine  young  man,  whom  we  had  concluded  to  receive 
into  the  church,  son  of  one  of  the  oldest  converts, 
spent  the  day  with  me,  in  company  with  two  or  three 
others  ;  and  just  at  night  we  repaired  to  the  remote 
side  of  the  old  baptizing  place,  and,  under  cover  of 
the  bushes,  perpetrated  a  deed,  which,  I  trust,  our 
enemies  will  not  be  able  to  gainsay  or  invalidate,  to 
all  eternity. 

"8. —  Yesterday  morning,  the  young  man,  on  re- 
turning to  his  residence,  a  few  miles  distant,  met 
his  father  under  arrest,  in  the  hands  of  the  myrmi- 
dons of  government,  on  thei'^  way  to  the  court  of  the 
governor — not,  I  w^as  glad  to  learn,  the  ferocious 
vice-governor  above  mentione^I.  One  of  the  con- 
verts ran  to  give  me  notice ;  ai?d  for  two  or  three 
hours  I  sat  expecting  the  worst.  JBut  the  blow  was 
averted,  as  suddenly  as  it  was  aimed.  *  What  have 
you  brought  the  man  before  me  for  ? '  said  the  oflicer. 
'  To  be  examined  on  a  charge  of  heresy  and  frequent- 
ing the  house  of  Jesus  Christ's  teacher,'  -«%aid  the 
leading  accuser.  *  On  what  authority  ? '  '  Here  is 
your  written  order.'     'What — who — I  have  given 


302  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

no  order.  It  must  be  one  of  my  p^tty  clerks.  It  is 
all  a  mistake.  Go  about  your  business.'  '  I  thought 
it  strange,'  rallied  the  arrested,  'that  you  should 
summon  me  on  a  charge  of  heresy,  as  it  is  well 
known  that  I  worship  the  true  God.'  '  God,'  said 
the  officer,  rather  nettled,  '  worship  any  God  you 
like ' — '  or  the  devil,'  promptly  added  a  virago,  sit- 
ting on  an  official  cushion,  at  his  side, — 'if  you 
villagers  just  pay  your  taxes,  what  more  do  we  want 
of  you  ? ' 

"As  near  as  we  can  ascertain  the  truth  of  this 
strange  affiiir,  the  officer,  after  sending  off  the  order 
early  in  the  morning,  not  entertaining  the  least  doubt 
that  the  measure  w^ould  be  approved,  as  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ  is  understood  to  be  universally  pro- 
scribed, stepped,  however,  into  the  government 
house  and  reported  what  he  had  done ;  and  the 
governor,  remembering  his  pledge  to  me  on  my 
first  arrival,  quashed  the  proceedings.  Thanks  be 
to  God. 

"And  this  is  not  the  first  favor  he  has  done  me,  as 
I  have  just  learned  by  a  very  private  confidential 
communication  from  a  sworn  employee  of  govern- 
ment, a  friend  of  mine,  though  not  of  the  cause.  A 
few  days  since,  one  of  the  highest  members  of  gov- 
ernment, represented  to  his  excellency,  that  two  or 
three  years  ago,  under  the  administration  of  his  pre- 
decessors, three  of  these  heretical  teachers,  (he  meant 
brethren  Ingalls,  Stevens,  and  Yinton,)  came  from 
Maulmain,  with  the  intention  of  effecting  a  settle- 
ment in  the  empire ;  that  he  mentioned  their  arrival 


OF   ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  303 

to  the  tlien  governor,  who  left  their  disposal  entirely 
in  his  hands,  on  which  he  ordered  them  out  of  the 
country ;  and  that  the  said  teachers  then  pretended 
they  had  not  come  to  stay,  and  immediately  took 
their  departure.  On  hearing  this,  the  governor  kept 
his  head  bent  over  his  breakfast,  and  made  no  reply. 
And  the  officer,  feeling  that  he  had  not  sufficient 
encouragement  to  bring  forward  my  case,  withdrew 
to  wait  for  a  more  convenient  season.  But  the  term 
of  this  governor's  rule  is  drawing  to  a  close  ;  and  it 
is  expected-  by  many,  that  he  will  be  succeeded  by 
the  ferocious  vice-governor. 

"13.  Lord's  day. —  Not  an  individual  ventures  to 
come  near  me.  I  am  advised  to  make  friends  with 
the  vice-governor,  by  w^hose  orders  the  house  is 
watched,  and  whose  authority  is  now  paramount  to 
that  of  the  governor,  a  weak  old  man,  who  suffers 
himself  to  be  set  at  defiance ;  but  I  think  that  an 
attempt  of  that  sort  would  but  expose  the  cause  to 
greater  danger. 

"I  am  persuaded,  as  I  have  been  for  years  past, 
that  the  only  way  to  keep  footing  in  Rangoon,  is  to 
obtain  some  countenance  at  Ava.  My  principal 
object  in  coming  hither  was  to  ascertain  the  practica- 
bility and  probable  advantage  of  proceeding  to  the 
capital.  The  present  governor  has  given  his  permis- 
sion, and  the  season  favorable  for  going  up  the  river 
is  not  far  distant.  But  at  the  approaching  crisis,  I 
find  myself  destitute  of  the  requisite  means.  The 
Board  have  approved  the  measure,  but  have  not 
been  able   to    accompany  their  approval  with   the 


304  THE   MISSIOA^ARY   LABOPwS 

needful  remittance.  On  the  contrary,  I  learn  from 
my  last  letters  from  Maulmain,  that  the  annual 
appropriation  for  the  Burman  mission,  is  ten  thou- 
sand rupees  less  than  the  current  expenses  require ! 
The  brethren  have  been  obliged  to  retrench  in  every 
department,  instead  of  being  able  to  make  an  appro- 
priation for  a  new  enterprise.  My  extra  expense  in 
Rangoon,  for  assistants  and  house  rent,  is  eighty  six 
rupees  a  month,  and  they  have  been  able  to  allow 
me  seventeen  and  a  half  only  !  The  mission  secre- 
tary writes  me,  that  for  anything  beyond  that  sum,  I 
must  look,  not  to  their  treasury,  but  to  the  Board. 
Instead,  therefore,  of  entering  on  a  new  and  expen- 
sive undertaking,  1  find  myself  unable  to  remain  in 
Rangoon.  But  no;  I  might  hope  that  an  appeal 
home  would  provide  means  for  remaining  here ;  but 
in  present  circumstances,  unable  to  remain,  to  any 
advantage,  without  making  friends  at  Ava,  and  hav- 
ing no  hope  that  the  Board  will  be  able  to  commence 
a  new  station,  or  even  sustain  the  old  ones  much 
longer,  there  remains  nothing  for  me  but  to  fall  back 
upon  Maulmain." 

"With  some  of  his  most  cherished  hopes  witnering, 
Mr.  Judson  returned  to  Maulmain,  in  September, 
and  resumed  his  labors  on  the  dictionary.  Writing 
on  the  19th  of  the  same  month,  he  says : 

^'  I  remained  in  Rangoon  long  enough  to  witness 
the  removal  of  my  friend,  the  governor,  and  the 
downfall  of  the  ferocious  vice-governor,  who  had 


OF   ADONTRAM   JUDSON.  305 

become  the  terror  of  all  classes,  and  particularly  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  carrying  out  the  proscription 
of  the  christian  religion. 

"  I  prolonged  my  stay  a  little,  in  order  to  ascertain 
the  disposition  of  the  new  governor ;  but  in  that  I 
found  nothing  but  discouragement.  He  very  soon 
gave  several  proofs  of  strict  adherence  to  the  estab- 
lished religion ;  his  reception  of  me  was  extremely 
cold  and  reserved ;  and  when  I  mentioned  my  desire 
of  proceeding  to  Ava,  at  some  future  tim.e,  he  did 
not  even  reply.  I  think,  however,  he  w^ould  not 
oppose  that  measure  ;  but,  in  present  circumstances, 
for  reasons  mentioned  in  my  last,  it  is  impracticable. 
I  therefore  concluded  to  return  to  Maulmain,  and 
arrived  here  on  the  5th  instant. 

"Brother  Stevens,  having  had  his  own  house 
burned  down,  had  taken  up  his  residence  in  mine, 
contiguous  to  the  native  chapel.  I  have,  therefore, 
taken  shelter  in  the  house  lately  occupied  by  brother 
Simons,  though  rather  remote  from  missionary  opera- 
tions, where  I  intend  to  make  an  effort  to  finish  the 
dictionary.  But  I  hope,  also,  to  preach  occasionally 
in  the  native  chapel,  one  sermon,  at  least,  every 
Lord's  day,  and  attend  to  such  other  missionary  work 
as  may  be  given  me  to  do." 

In  April,  184:8,  Rev.  William  Moore  and  wife, 
joined  the  Maulmain  mission,  connecting  themselves 
with  the  Karen  department,  and  living  at  ^N^ewton. 
This  is  the  name  given,  about  that  time,  to  the  north- 
erly part  of  Maulmain,  and  was  now  regarded  as  a 

20 


306  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

distinct  station.  The  missionaries  to  the  Karens, 
associated  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  at  this  date, 
were  Rev.  Messrs.  Binney,  Harris,  and  Mason,  and 
Miss  Yinton  —  Rev.  J.  II.  Yinton  and  wife,  being 
on  a  visit  to  this  country.  The  schools,  theological 
and  normal,  for  the  Karens,  were  very  prosperous. 
Four  graduates  of  the  former  were  ordained  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1847,  a  circumstance  which  was  looked  upon 
as  "  one  of  the  most  gratifying  and  auspicious  inci- 
dents in  the  history  of  the  Maulmain  and  Karen 
mission,"  that  year. 

After  Mr.  Judson's  return  from  Rangoon,  aside 
from  his  duties  as  a  lexicographer,  he  preached  once 
a  day  on  the  Sabbath,  in  the  Burman  chapel ;  and 
ere  long  assumed  the  pastoral  relation  to  the  Bur- 
man  church,  in  place  of  Mr.  Stevens,  who  removed, 
for  a  short  time,  to  Amherst  to  supply  a  vacancy 
occasioned  by  Mr.  HaswelPs  illness  and  departure, 
with  his  wife,  for  this  country. 

The  last  mentioned  gentleman,  prior  to  his  em- 
barkation, had  resided  several  months  at  Maulmain 
preaching  both  in  the  Peguan  and  Burman  lan- 
guages. He  completed  the  Peguan  Kew  Testament 
in  the  summer  of  1847. 

While  the  American  laborers  in  the  Burman  de- 
partment of  the  Maulmain  mission  were  diligent 
in  their  several  callings,  the  native  assistants  were 
probably  no  less  industrious.  The  thirty-fourth  an- 
nual report  of  the  Board,  slightly  condensed,  speaks 
as  foUows  in  regard  to  their  efforts : 


OF  ADONIRAM   JFDSON.  307 

"  Much  preaching  is  performed  by  the  native 
preachers  in  Mauhnain.  The  city  is  an  oblong  of 
several  miles  extent,  with  a  native  population  of 
some  thirty  or  forty  thousand.  To  secure  the  more 
general  dispensation  of  the  gospel,  the  following 
arrangements  have  long  been  in  existence.  Near 
the  Burmese  chapel  stands  a  brick  zayat,  which  is 
daily  occupied,  Sundays  excepted,  by  one  or  more 
native  preachers,  declaring  the  gospel  daily,  some- 
times indeed  to  few,  and  at  other  times  to  scores 
in  one  day.  Another  zayat  is  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  near  the  great  bazaar,  not  so  old  a 
preaching  stand  as  the  former,  but,  in  some  respects, 
much  superior  to  it.  The  fam3  of  these  two  zayats 
in  particular  has  spread  far  into  Burmah  Proper. 
In  the  south  part  of  the  town,  in  Moung  Kgau's 
district,  is  another  house  fitted  up  to  hold  evening 
meetings  in,  and  occupied  by  a  preacher  and  his 
family.  One  of  his  sons  lives  near  him,  also  a 
preacher.  For  many  years  a  lamp  has  been  burn- 
ing in  that  house.  Many  have  heard  the  gospel 
there ;  and  the  neighborhood  well  knows,  by  precept 
and  example,  what  Jesus  Christ's  religion  is.  Still 
further  south,  on  the  same  road,  stands  another  sim- 
ilar house,  but  less  recently  occupied  by  preaching. 
x\nother  christian  house,  occupied  by  two  native 
preachers  and  their  families,  is  situated  near  the 
north-east  end  of  the  town,  not  very  far  from  the 
location  of  the  Karen  mission,  and  in  the  midst  of 
a  population  twice  as  large,  perhaps,  as  that  of  Am- 
herst.    That  part  of  the  town  is  specially  assigned 


308  THE   MISSIONARY   LABOES 

to  them ;  and  is  it  their  daily  practice  to  go  from 
house  to  house,  to  the  bazaars,  funerals,  and  other 
places  and  occasions  of  concourse,  making  known 
the  grace  of  the  gospel.  Besides  the  preachers  as- 
signed to  these  five  stations,  two  others  understand 
it  to  be  their  particular  duty  to  itinerate  through 
the  town,  and  preach  wherever  they  can  obtain  a 
hearing. 

"  The  assistants  are  doing  a  great  work,  and  from 
Maulmain  the  truth  is  sounded  out  to  the  remotest 
parts  of  Burmah  Proper,  as  well  as  throughout  the 
provinces  of  Tenasserim.  They  daily  meet  with 
traders  and  others  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  make  known  to  them  the  leading  doctrines  of 
the  gospel,  answer  their  objections,  and  give  them 
tracts  and  portions  of  Scripture,  which  are  thus 
scattered  abroad  as  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 
And  though  some  seed  falls  by  the  wayside,  some 
among  thorns,  and  some  among  stony  places,  some 
also  must  fall  upon  good  ground  and  bring  forth 
fruit  to  the  glory  of  God.  The  truth  is  working 
its  way  into  the  hearts  of  the  people  in  town  and 
country." 


CHAPTEK   XXIII. 


Christian  Reciprocity  —  Mr.  Judson  proposes  to  visit  Ava — Temporary  Abandon- 
ment of  the  Project  —  Failure  of  Mr.  Abbott  to  reenter  Burmah  Proper  — 
Messrs.  Kincaid  and  Uawson  appointed  to  the  Ava  Mission  —  Latest  Intelli- 
gence  from  them— The  Burman  Dictionary. 

Sweet  is  christian  reciprocity,  and  beautiful  are 
its  manifestations.  The  people,  for  whom  our  pray- 
ers have  been  so  frequently  offered,  and  to  whom 
the  gospel  has  been  sent,  are  beginning,  in  part,  to 
reciprocate  the  favor.  A  few  months  since,  we  saw 
a  member  of  the  Nowgong  Orphan  School,  in  As- 
sam, worshiping  with  the  members  of  the  church  in- 
Buffalo,  to  which  the  female  teacher  in  that  school 
belongs — rejoicing,  that  the  light  of  truth  has  been 
sent  to  benighted  Assam ;  pleading  for  the  benedic- 
tion of  Heaven  to  rest  upon  those  who  had  been 
instrumental  in  teaching  him  the  true  religion ;  and 
beseeching  sinners  in  christian  America  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  Christ. 

Another  instance  of  christian  reciprocity  —  one 
which  strikingly  illustrates  its  beauty,  and  the  power 


310  THE   MISSION AKY"   LABORS 

and  worth  of  the  religion  that  prompts  it — is  record- 
ed by  Mr.  Jndson.  Writing  on  the  21st  of  May,  1848, 
he  says:  "I  have  just  returned  from  the  Burmese 
chapel,  where  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  do  some- 
thing analogous  to  what  I  suppose  many  ministers 
are  doing  before  their  respective  churches,  on  this, 
the  first  Sabbath  subsequent  to  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Union.  I  improved  the  occasion  to  impress  on 
my  hearers  their  obligations  to  christians  in  Amer- 
ica, for  having  sustained  this  mission  through  the 
long  period  of  thirty-five  years  —  and  not  this  mission 
only,  but  missions  throughout  the  world ;  that  there 
are,  at  present,  above  a  thousand  American  mission- 
aries, of  diiferent  denominations,  scattered  over  the 
habitable  globe.  It  is  true,  that  the  relative  positions 
of  the  parties  would  not  allow  them  to  manifest  their 
gratitude  in  such  a  manner  as  the  christians  of  Ma- 
cedonia and  Achaia  manifested  their  gratitude  to  the 
poor  brethren  in  Jerusalem,  (Rom.  iv:  26,  27;)  but 
they  could  be  convinced  of  their  obligations ;  they 
could  ponder  on  them  and  converse  about  them, 
until  their  hearts  burned  with  gratitude  and  love 
to  their  American  brethren,  and  to  the  Saviour,  the 
Lord  of  missions.  They  could,  though  separated  by 
wide  oceans,  meet  at  the  same  throne  of  grace ;  and 
though  they  could  not  extend  their  own  hands  in 
kindness,  they  could  open  that  Hand  which  is  re- 
plete with  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  and  cause 
a  shower  of  blessings  to  descend  on  their  distant 
benefactors.  They  could  gladden  their  hearts  and 
the  heart  of  their  Saviour,  by  living  according  to 


OF  ADONIRAM  JTJDSON.  311 

the  precepts  of  the  holy  religion  which  had  been 
sent  them :  and  is  there  any  thing  sweeter  and  no- 
bler in  this  world,  than  to  gladden  the  hearts  of 
our  benefactors,  especially  of  our  great  Benefactor, 
who  laid  down  his  life  for  us  ?  And,  lastly,  they  could 
second  the  intentions  of  their  American  brethren, 
by  making  every  eftbrt  to  spread  the  gospel  around 
them.  'Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.'  I 
never  had  a  more  attentive  audience.  May  God 
bless  the  feeble  effort,  and  the  efforts  of  my  brethren 
during  the  past  week,  in  drawing  into  closer  union 
the  far-separated  members  of  Christ's  body,  imtil 
we  become  one  in  him  forevermore." — Thus  the 
churches  of  Asia  salute  their  sisters  in  America. 

While  Mr.  Judson  was  at  Eangoon,  in  1847,  the 
government  interpreter  of  that  city  often  urged  him 
to  proceed  to  Ava,  and  reap  the  superior  advantages 
there  afforded  for  the  prosecution  of  his  great  liter- 
ary task;  but  it  will  be  recollected  that  a  serious 
obstacle  lay  in  his  way,  in  the  low  state  of  the 
mission  fands.  Early  in  the  autumn  of  1848,  the 
prospect  for  visiting  the  capital  seemed  to  assume 
a  feasible  aspect,  and  Mr.  Judson  wrote  on  the  23d 
of  September,  revealing  his  plan  to  the  Board : 

"  The  preparation  of  the  English  and  Burmese 
part  of  my  dictionary  is  so  far  advanced,  that  I  hope 
to  commence  printing  a  small  edition  next  month, 
preparatory  to  a  larger  and  uniform  edition  of  both 
parts,  when  the  Burmese  and  English  part  is  com- 
pleted.    But,  as  I  advance  in  the  latter  part,  I  feel 


812  THE  MISSIONARY   LABOES 

more  deeply  the  desirableness  and  importance  of 
making  a  visit  to  Ava,  and  availing  myself  of  tlie 
learned  men  and  the  literary  works  that  are  to  be 
found  at  the  capital  alone.  The  government  inter- 
preter of  Rangoon,  who  greatly  befriended  me  during 
my  visit  to  the  place  last  year,  lately  wrote  me,  that 
he  hoped  I  would  bear  in  mind  the  necessity  of 
going  to  Ava  before  I  printed  the  work,  and  that  if 
I  did  not,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  make  it 
what  it  ought  to  be.  I  presume  that  no  person,  ac- 
quainted with  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  would 
dissent  from  that  opinion.  But  the  difficulty  of  pen- 
etrating into  the  country,  and  staying  long  enough 
to  improve  the  dictionary,  is  very  great ;  w^hile  the 
importance  of  the  undertaking  will  appear  still  great- 
er, if  some  view  be  had  to  the  welfare  of  the  scat- 
tered church,  and  the  necessity  of  conciliating  the 
government,  and  obtaining,  if  possible,  some  religious 
toleration. 

"  When  last  in  Eangoon,  I  lost  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity, such  as  may  not  occur  once  in  a  hundred 
years.  The  governor  of  Eangoon  was  the  very  last 
of  all  my  old  court  acquaintances ;  and  he  was  ready 
to  clear  my  way  to  Ava,  and,  by  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion, into  the  very  presence  of  the  king.  But  I  had 
no  money  to  buy  a  boat,  pay  the  boatmen,  and  de- 
fray the  other  inevitable  expenses  of  the  undertak- 
ing, nor  even  to  pay  my  house-rent  in  Rangoon ;  so 
I  was  obliged  to  return  to  this  place.  The  commit- 
tee have  since  kindly  defrayed  the  debt  contracted 
on  the  latter  account;  but  this  is  all.     I  suppose 


OF  ADONIEAM   JUDSON.  313 

they  thought,  with  me,  that  siicli  a  good  opportunity 
would  never  occur  again,  and  that  no  benefit  would 
result  from  lamenting  over  the  past,  or  providing  for 
the  future,  a  future  so  utterly  improbable.  There  is, 
however,  at  the  present  moment,  a  small  prospect  in 
the  horizon,  which  may,  in  a  few  months,  diclose  an 
open  path  to  Ava.  If  such  should  be  the  case,  the 
committee,  as  well  as  myself,  would  regret  that  my 
hands  were  still  left  tied,  and  another  opportunity 
be  irretrievably  lost.  I  request,  therefore,  that  they 
will  take  into  immediate  consideration  the  question 
of  appropriating  a  sum,  say  one  thousand  rupees,  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  such  an  undertaking  as  I 
speak  of;  and  they  may  depend,  that  I  shall  render, 
as  in  former  times,  a  minute  and,  I  hope,  satisfactory 
account  of  the  way  in  which  the  money  shall  be 
expended. 

"  I  should  endeavor  to  make  it  a  point,  before 
leaving  this,  not  only  to  see  one  part  of  the  diction- 
ary out  of  the  press,  but  the  other  part  brought  to 
such  a  state,  that  it  may  be  transcribed  and  a  copy 
left  with  the  mission,  in  case  of  ulterior  accident." 

Rejoiced  that  Mr.  Judson  was  again  entertaining 
the  project  of  taking  up  his  abode  at  the  capital, 
the  executive  committee  cheerfully  and  promptly 
responded  to  his  request,  placing  at  his  disposal 
pecuniary  facilities  for  the  contemplated  removal. 
The  appropriation  reached  him  in  February,  1849, 
and,  writing  from  Maulmain,  on  the  20th  of  August 
following,  he  says : 


314  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

"  As  you  see  from  the  date,  I  am  still  at  Maulmain. 
Before  receiving  yom-s  of  the  20th  of  Febniary  last, 
with  the  appropriation  for  the  expenses  of  a  journey 
to  Ava,  the  '  small  prospect  in  the  horizon,'  men- 
tioned in  mine  of  the  September  preceding,  had 
passed  away;  and  since  that,  nothing  encom'aging 
has  occurred.  "Were  it  not,  however,  for  the  follow- 
ing reason,  I  should  prosecute  my  first  intention; 
for,  so  far  as  a  mere  journey  to  Ava  is  concerned,  I 
know  of  no  obstacle  in  the  way  of  any  foreigner 
who  wishes  to  proceed  thither. 

"  Just  as  I  had  finished  the  English  and  Burmese 
part  of  the  dictionary,  at  the  close  of  last  year,  and 
was  about  commencing  the  Burmese  and  English 
part.  Providence  sent  me  without  my  seeking,  an 
excellent  Burmese  scholar,  once  a  priest  at  Ava,  and 
recommended  by  a  gentleman  quite  competent  to 
appreciate  his  qualifications,  (since  deceased,)  as  '  the 
most  profound  scholar  he  had  ever  met  with.'  I 
took  him  at  once  into  my  employ,  and  his  aid, 
united  with  that  of  my  other  assistants,  proves  to  be 
invaluable,  and,  in  my  opinion,  obviates  much  of 
the  necessity  of  going  to  Ava,  so  far  as  the  dictionary 
is  concerned. 

"  Considering,  therefore,  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and 
the  state  of  my  manuscript,  so  efiaced  by  time  or  so 
erased  or  interlined  as  to  be  illegible  to  any  other 
person  but  myself,  I  have  thought  it  was  my  duty 
to  forego,  for  the  present,  what  I  can  not  but  regard 
as  an  interesting  expedition,  in  order  to  drive  for- 
ward the  heavy  work  of  the  dictionary  in  the  most 


OF   ADONIEAM   JUDSOX.  315 

satisfactory  manner,  and  without  incurring  the  haz- 
ard of  any  serious  interruption;  —  provided  always, 
that  in  the  mean  time  nothing  particuhirly  encour- 
aging, in  the  direction  of  Ava,  shoukl  occur. 

"  I  hope,  however,  that  the  appropriation  of  the 
executive  committee  will  not  be  withdrawn,  but  that 
I  may  be  allowed  to  consider  it  available  at  the  very 
earliest  opportunity." 

It  may  be  needless  to  mention,  that  Mr.  Judson 
had  a  double  purpose  in  view,  in  case  he  should  be 
permitted  to  visit  the  capital  of  the  empire.  He 
wished  not  only  to  avail  himself  of  the  literary  ad- 
vantages of  the  place,  but  to  make  known  the  gospel 
to  the  new  monarch  and  his  idolatrous  subjects. 
Yet  "  nothing  particularly  encouraging  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Ava,"  was  seen  that  year, —  and  he  was  to 
stand  in  the  golden  presence  no  more ! 

Mr.  Abbott,  the  hero  of  Sandoway,  attempted  to 
reenter  Burmah  Proper,  in  18i9,  and  failed  ;  but  he 
hoped,  some  day,  to  make  another  and  a  successful 
attempt.  He  writes,  "  Could  I  only  get  there,  and 
live  with  those  Karen  churches  a  few  months,  the 
fearful  excitement  which  my  first  going  into  the 
country  induces,  would  die  away,  and  the  govern- 
ment, I  think,  would  not  disturb  the  people  on  my 
account.  But  I  must  await  the  indications  of  Prov- 
idence, holding  myself  in  readiness  to  enter  the 
country,  at  a  moment's  w^arning." 

How  long  the  golden  frown  is  to  rest  on  the  meek 
harbingers  of  the  richest  tidings,  is  known  only  to 


316  THE    MISSIONARY   LABORS 

Him  who  sees  the  end  of  the  heathen's  wrath,  and 
has  appointed  the  time  for  their  redemption.  Possi- 
bly, even  now,  faint  gleams  of  the  slowly-breaking 
millennial  morn,  may  be  tipping  the  spires  of  the 
golden  palace.  The  Board,  seeing  a  "  small  pros- 
j)ect  in  the  horizon,"  last  year  appointed  Mr.  Kin- 
caid  and  J.  Dawson,  M.  D.,  to  recommence,  if  prac- 
ticable, the  mission  at  Ava.  Whether  they  have 
proceeded  all  the  way  thither,  it  is  not  known.  The 
latest  intelligence  received  from  them  is  contained 
in  tlie  following  communication  from  Mr.  Kincaid, 
dated  at  Kangoon,  March  10,  1851 : 

"After  remaining  eleven  days  in  Maulmain,  Dr. 
Dawson  and  I  took  passage  in  a  schooner  of  thirty- 
one  tons,  manned  by  Mussulmans,  and  the  morning 
of  the  5th,  reached  Rangoon,  now  little  more  than 
one  wide  ruin.  The  fire,  last  December,  destroyed 
about  three-fourths  of  the  old  city.  Not  only  so,  but 
a  great  number  of  boats  and  several  ships  were 
burned.  Many  hundreds  of  families  barely  esca]3ed 
from  their  houses  with  their  lives.  Building  is  rap- 
idly going  on,  and  hence  all  sorts  of  material  and  all 
kinds  of  workmen  are  in  demand. 

"It  being  exceedingly  doubtful  about  our  being 
able  to  procure  a  house,  we  left  our  families  in  brother 
Simon's  house,  and  came  on  to  see  what  arrange- 
ments could  be  made.  One  street,  called  Ko  la  don, 
that  is  Foreigner's  street,  was  saved  entirely  from 
the  fire.  The  buildings  are  owned  and  occupied  by 
Armenians,  Mussulmans,  and  Hindoos.     We  called 


OF  ADONIRAM   JUDSON.  31^/ 

at  once  at  tlie  house  in  which  I  had  lived  nineteen 
years  ago,  owned  by  a  Hindoo.  The  old  man  is 
dead ;  but  his  son  received  me  with  great  cordiality, 
and  gave  us  a  room  to  occupy  while  in  the  city. 
When  we  first  landed,  we  showed  ourselves  at  the 
custom  house,  and  got  our  baggage  passed.  A  few 
hours  after,  we  were  sent  for  and  questioned  relative 
to  our  business  ;  where  we  came  from  ;  the  name  of 
the  ship ;  the  name  of  the  captain  ;  what  places  we 
stopped  at,  if  any ;  how  many  days  we  were  in 
reaching  Africa ;  how  many  days  we  remained  there ; 
how  long  in  reaching  Maulmain ;  how  many  days  we 
remained  there ;  how  many  languages  we  understood ; 
and  many  other  questions  of  a  similar  character :  and 
all  was  written  down  with  great  minuteness.  The  next 
day  we  were  sent  for  again,  and  questioned  relative 
to  our  object  in  coming  into  Burmah,  and  if  we 
were  '  Jesus  Christ's  men  ; '  all  of  which  was  written 
down,  and  then  read  to  us,  and  the  inquiry  put,  if  it 
was  written  correctly.  On  Saturday,  we  were  sent 
for  again,  and  questioned  relative  to  Dr.  Dawson's 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  how  many  kinds  of  dis- 
eases he  could  cure.  Upon  this  Dr.  D.  brought  a  vol- 
ume on  surgery,  full  of  illustrative  plates ;  this  the 
officers  examined  with  care,  and  another  record  made. 
"  On  Sabbath  morning  the  viceroy  sent  for  me.  I 
told  the  secretary  to  inform  his  excellency  that  this 
was  a  sacred  day,  and  I  could  not  attend  to  any 
w^orldly  business.  This,  it  seems,  was  satisfactory ; 
but  Lord's  day  evening,  betweeen  nine  and  ten 
o'clock,  the  secretary  came,  and  said  I  would  be 


318  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

called  early  in  the  morning,  and  was  to  be  ques- 
tioned in  reference  to  my  former  residence  in  Ava. 
He  manifested  no  small  degree  of  anxiety,  thinking 
they  were  contriving  a  plan  to  get  me  into  difficulty. 
He  is  a  fine  young  man,  and  appears  to  be  a  true 
friend  ;  but  he  is  very  timid.  IN'ot  long  since,  how- 
ever, an  English  merchant  was  imprisoned  and  his 
feet  put  in  the  stocks,  because  his  father  had,  as  they 
alleged,  written  a  letter  against  the  government  in 
one  of  the  Calcutta  papers.  It  cost  him  between 
five  and  six  hundred  rupees  to  get  out  of  prison. 
Several  foreigners  have  been  imprisoned  during  the 
last  six  months  on  the  most  frivolous  pretences,  and 
money  extorted  from  them. 

^*  Early  this  morning,  I  was  called  to  the  custom 
house,  and  questioned  in  reference  to  the  year  I  first 
came  to  Burmah,  how  long  I  lived  in  Rangoon,  and 
how  long  in  Ava,  and  other  points  of  a  similar  char- 
acter ;  and  my  answers  were  all  written  down.  One 
could  almost  fancy  himself  before  a  set  of  inquisi- 
tors. One  of  the  officers  afterward  came  and  apolo- 
gized ;  he  said  it  was  the  order  of  the  viceroy,  or 
governor,  and  his  authority  was  supreme.  I  replied, 
that  we  had  no  objection  to  answer  any  questions 
the  government  was  disposed  to  ask.  All  the  officers 
whom  I  had  formerly  known,  treated  us  with  civility. 
The  viceroy  is  a  new  man,  as  are  also  all  the  high 
officers  of  the  empire.  The  temper  and  policy  of  the 
government  have  changed  amazingly  since  the  revo- 
lution in  1837.  When  I  have  had  more  experience, 
I  will  write  more  definitely. 


OF  ADONIRAM  JTJDSON.  319 

"  Ko  Thah-a,  the  venerable  old  pastor,  has  called 
on  us  two  or  three  times  ;  also,  two  other  members 
of  the  church.  The  news  of  our  arrival  spread  rap- 
idly over  the  city  and  into  the  neighboring  villages, 
and  many  with  whom  I  had  formerly  been  acquaint- 
ed, called, —  among  them  two  young  men  who  had 
been  educated  in  Mrs.  Kincaid's  school  at  Ava. 
Armenians,  Mohammedans,  and  Hindoos  have  vis- 
ited us.  A  Jew  from  Bagdad  has  spent  two  even- 
ings with  us,  listening  to  our  account  of  the  Messiah. 
Dr.  Dawson  conversed  with  him  in  Hindostani,  as 
he  does  not  understand  Burman  very  well.  He 
inquired  if  it  was  possible  to  get  the  life  of  Christ  in 
Hebrew  or  Arabic.  I  promised  to  try,  as  he  under- 
stands those  languages  perfectly.  We  must,  if  pos- 
sible, get  the  Scriptm-es  in  seven  or  eight  different 
languages. 

'^  Dr.  Dawson's  professional  character  has  spread 
reports  abroad  that  all  sorts  ol  diseases  can  be  cured, 
and  persons  are  floclii ug  in  to  tost  his  skill.  Among 
them  are  several  interesting  cases.  We  have  suc- 
ceeded in  procuring  a  house,  and  shall  bring  our 
families  to  Rangoon  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  I  have  as  yet  obtained  no  information  about  the 
church  in  Ava.  Tliere  can  not  be  many  members 
there  ;  some  have  died,  and  I  lind  eight  of  the  Ava 
disciples  now  members  of  the  churches  in  Amherst 
and  ]Maulmain  ;  one  is  in  Arracan." 

The  publication  of  the  first  part  of  the  dictionary, 
was  commenced  in  1849,  and  the  first  two  signatures 


320         »  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

were  forwarded,  as  specimens  of  the  work,  to  the 
mission  rooms,  accompanied  by  a  note  from  Mr. 
Judson  in  which  he  says  :  "  The  work  will  make  a 
quarto  volume  of  about  six  hundred  pages.  We  are 
printing  a  small  edition  of  three  hundred  copies 
only.  When  the  Burmese  and  English  part  is  com- 
pleted, and  the  first  part  revised,  we  shall  probably 
issue  a  much  larger  edition  of  both  parts,  in  two 
volumes  quarto." 

Alas  !  Mr.  Judson  was  never  to  see  the  whole  of 
the  first  part  printed,  nor  the  Burmese  and  English 
part  completed.*  When  the  latter  was  about  half 
finished,  failing  health  forced  him  to  relinquish  it ; 
and  Mr.  Stevens  is  now  reexamining  and  verifying 
the  materials,  and  recasting  a  part  of  the  work, 
which  was  written  in  cipher  by  the  hand  that  has 
now  forgotten  its  cunning,  and  is  at  rest,  where 

" the  sands  are  bright  as  the  stars  that  glow 


In  the  motionless  fields  of  upper  air.' 


*  The  printing  of  the  English  and  Burmese  dictionary  was  com- 
pleted in  January,  1851. 


/* 


CHAPTER   XXIY. 

Mr.  Judson's  last  Illness— Fruitless  Efforts  for  his  Restoration  —  Beautiful  1)*: 
cliiie  of  a  Life  of  Faith  —  Mr.  Judsoa  embarks  for  the  Isle  of  Bourbon  —  Mr. 
Raimey  accompanies  him  — Last  Moments  of  Mr.  Judson  —  His  Death  and 
Burial. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  1849,  Mr.  Judson 
caught  a  severe  cold  while  attending  one  of  his 
children,  who  was  taken  suddenly  ill,  in  a  damp  and 
chilly  night ;  and  from  that  time  health  was  a  stran- 
ger to  him.  He  did  not,  however,  entirely  relin- 
quish his  studies  until  the  month  of  November.  In 
January  following,  he  took  a  trip  to  Mergui,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  and  returned  without  having 
realized  material  benefit.  His  physician  then  ad- 
vised him  to  again  try  the  effects  of  sea  breezes,  and 
also  of  sea-bathing;  accordingly,  again  accompanied 
by  his  feeble  yet  faithful  companion,  he  repaired 
to  Amherst,  where  he  remained  nearly  a  month, 
but  without  sensible  improvement.  On  the  21st  of 
February,  he  penned  the  following  note,  which,  it 
may  be  needless  to  say,  was  received  at  the  mission 
rooms,  in  Boston,  with  extremely  painful  feelings, 
and  spread  alarm  through  the  land; 

21 


322  THE   MISSIONARY  LABOKS 

"  I  can  not  manage  a  pen,  so  please  excuse  pencil. 
I  have  been  prostrated  with  fever  ever  since  the 
latter  part  of  last  November,  and  have  suffered  so 
much  that  I  have  frequently  remarked,  that  I  was 
never  ill  in  India  before.  Through  the  mercy  of 
God,  I  think  I  am  convalescent  for  the  last  ten  days ; 
but  the  doctor  and  all  my  friends  are  very  urgent 
that  I  should  take  a  sea- voyage  of  a  month  or  two, 
and  be  absent  from  the  place  a  long  time.  May  God 
direct  in  the  path  of  duty.  My  hand  is  failing,  so  I 
will  beg  to  remain,  &c." 

His  sufferings,  hopes,  and  peace  of  mind  in  this, 
his  last  illness,  are  touchingly  described  by  the  gifted 
pen  of  Mrs.  Judson,  in  a  communication  addressed 
to  Miss  Abigail  B.  Judson,  his  only  surviving  sister. 
The  extracts  which  follow,  and  which  are  abridged  to 
serve  our  purpose,  and  not  because  any  parts  are 
deficient  in  interest,  present,  in  brightest  colors,  some 
of  the  loveliest  traits  of  his  character,  and  additional 
proof  of  the  triumphs  of  the  soul  that  is  steadfast  in 
Christ : 

"There  was  something  exceedingly  beautiful  in 
the  decline  of  your  brother's  life  —  more  beautiful 
than  I  can  describe,  though  the  impression  will  re- 
main with  me  as  a  sacred  legacy,  until  I  go  to  meet 
him  where  suns  shall  never  set  and  life  shall  never 
end.  He  had  been,  from  my  first  acquaintance  with 
him,  an  uncommonly  spiritual  christian,  exhibiting 
his  richest  graces  in  the  unguarded  intercourse  of 


OF  ADONIRAM  JTJDSON.  323 

private  life ;  but,  during  his  last  year,  it  seemed  as 
thouf]ch  the  lidit  of  the  world  on  which  he  was  enter- 
ing,  had  been  sent  to  brighten  his  upward  pathway. 
Every  subject  on  which  we  conversed,  every  book 
we  read,  every  incident  that  occurred,  whether  trivial 
or  important,  had  a  tendency  to  suggest  some  pe- 
culiarly spiritual  train  of  thought,  till  it  seemed  to 
me,  more  than  ever  before,  '  that  Christ  was  all  his 
theme.'  Something  of  the  same  nature  was  also 
noted  in  his  preaching,  to  which  I  then  had  not  the 
privilege  of  listening.  He  was  in  the  habit,  how- 
ever, of  studying  his  subject  for  the  Sabbath,  audi- 
bly, and  in  my  presence,  at  which  time  he  was 
frequently  so  much  affected  as  to  weep,  and  some- 
times so  overwhelmed  with  the  vastness  of  his  con- 
ceptions, as  to  be  obliged  to  abandon  his  theme,  and 
choose  another.  My  own  illness,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year,  had  brought  eternity  very  near  to 
us,  and  rendered  death,  the  grave,  and  the  bright 
heaven  beyond  it,  fomiliar  subjects  of  conversation. 
Gladly  would  I  give  you  some  idea  of  the  share 
borne  by  him  in  those  memorable  conversations  ;  but 
it  would  be  impossible  to  convey,  even  to  those  who 
know  him  best,  the  most  distant  conception.  I  be- 
lieve he  has  sometimes  been  thought  eloquent,  both 
in  conversation  and  in  the  sacred  desk  ;  but  the  fer- 
vid, burning  eloquence,  the  deep  pathos,  the  touching 
tenderness,  the  elevation  of  thought,  and  intense 
beauty  of  expression,  which  characterized  those  pri- 
vate teachings,  were  not  only  beyond  what  I  had 


324  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

ever  heard  before,  but  sucb  as  I  felt  sure  arrested  bis 
own  attentioD,  and  sm-prised  even  himself. 

"As  his  health  declined,  his  mental  exercises  at 
first  seemed  deepened ;  and  he  gave  still  large  por- 
tions of  his  time  to  prayer,  conversing  with  the 
utmost  freedom  on  his  daily  progress,  and  the  extent 
of  his  self-conquest.  Just  before  our  trip  to  Mergui, 
he  looked  up  from  his  pillow  one  day,  with  sudden 
animation,  and  said  to  me  earnestly,  '  I  have  gained 
the  victory  at  last.  I  love  every  one  of  Christ's 
redeemed,  as  I  believe  he  would  have  me  love  them, 
in  the  same  manner,  though  not  probably  to  the  same 
degree,  as  we  shall  love  one  another  in  heaven ;  and 
gladly  would  I  prefer  the  meanest  of  his  creatures, 
who  bears  his  name,  before  myself  This  he  said 
in  allusion  to  the  text,  'In  honor  preferring  one 
another,'  on  which  he  had  frequently  dwelt  with 
great  emphasis.  After  further  similar  conversation 
he  concluded, '  And  now  here  I  lie  at  peace  with  all 
the  world,  and,  what  is  better  still,  at  peace  with  my 
own  conscience.  I  know  that  I  am  a  miserable  sin- 
ner in  the  sight  of  God,  with  no  hope  but  in  the 
blessed  Saviour's  merits  ;  but  I  can  not  think  of  any 
particular  fault,  any  peculiarly  besetting  sin,  which  it 
is  now  my  duty  to  correct.    Can  you  tell  me  of  any? ' 

"And  truly,  from  this  time,  no  other  word  would  so 
wdl  express  his  state  of  feeling,  as  that  one  of  his  own 
choosing — peace.  He  had  no  particular  exercises 
afterward,  but  remained  calm  and  serene,  speaking 
of  himself  daily  as  a  great  sinner,  who  had  been 
overwhelmed  with  benefits,  and  declaring  that  he 


OF  ADONIRAM  JUDSON.  325 

had  never,  in  all  his  life  before,  had  such  delightful 
views  of  the  unfathomable  love,  and  infinite  conde- 
scension of  the  Saviour,  as  were  now  daily  opening 
before  him.  '  O,  the  love  of  Christ !  the  love  of 
Christ ! '  he  would  suddenly  exclaim,  w^hile  his  eye 
kindled,  and  the  tears  chased  each  other  down  his 
cheeks,  'we  can  not  understand  it  now — but  what 
a  beautiful  study  for  eternity ! ' 

"  At  Amherst  we  remained  nearly  a  month.  This 
to  me  was  the  darkest  period  of  his  illness — no 
medical  adviser,  no  friend  at  hand,  and  he  daily 
growing  weaker  and  weaker.  He  began  to  totter  in 
"walking,  clinging  to  the  furniture  and  walls  when, 
he  thought  he  was  unobserved,  (for  he  was  not  wil- 
ling to  acknowledge  his  debility,)  and  his  wan  face 
was  of  a  ghastly  paleness.  His  sufferings,  too,  were 
sometimes  fearfully  intense,  so  that  in  spite  of  his 
habitual  self-control,  his  groans  would  fill  the  house. 
At  other  times,  a  kind  of  lethargy  seemed  to  steal 
over  him,  and  he  w^ould  sleep  almost  incessantly 
for  twenty-four  hours,  seeming  annoyed  if  he  were 
aroused  or  disturbed.  Yet  there  were  portions  of 
the  time  when  he  was  comparatively  comfortable, 
and  conversed  intelligently ;  but  his  mind  seemed  to 
revert  to  former  scenes,  and  he  tried  to  amuse  me 
with  stories  of  his  boyhood — his  college  days — his 
imprisonment  in  France,  and  his  early  missionary 
life.  He  had  a  great  deal  also  to  say  on  his  favorita 
theme,  '  The  love  of  Christ ; '  but  his  strength  was 
too  much  impaired  for  any  continuous  mental  effort. 
Even  a  short  prayer,  made  audibly,  exhausted  him 


326  THE   MISSIONAET   LABORS 

to  such  a  degree,  that  he  was  obliged  to  discontinue 
the  practice. 

"At  length  I  wrote  to  Manlmain,  giving  some 
expression  of  my  anxieties  and  misgivings,  and  our 
kind  missionary  friends,  who  had,  from  the  first, 
evinced  all  the  tender  interest  and  watchful  sympa- 
thy of  the  nearest  kindred,  immediately  sent  for  us, 
the  doctor  advising  a  sea- voyage.  But  as  there  was 
no  vessel  in  the  harbor  bound  for  a  port  sufficiently 
distant,  we  thought  it  best,  in  the  meantime,  to  re- 
move from  our  old  dwelling  which  had  long  been  con- 
demned as  unhealthy,  to  another  mission-house,  for- 
tunately empty.  This  change  was,  at  iirst,  attended 
with  the  most  beneficial  results,  and  our  hopes  revived 
so  much,  that  we  looked  forward  to  the  approachiiig 
rainy  season  for  entire  restoration.  But  it  lasted 
only  a  little  while,  and  then  both  of  us  became  con- 
vinced, that,  though  a  voyage  at  sea  involved  much 
that  was  exceedingly  painful,  it  yet  presented  the 
only  prospect  of  recovery,  and  could  not,  therefore, 
without  a  breach  of  duty,  be  neglected. 

" '  O,  if  it  were  only  the  will  of  God  to  take  me 
now — to  let  me  die  here!'  he  repeated,  over  and 
over  again,  in  a  tone  of  anguish,  while  we  were  con- 
sidering the  subject.  'I  can  not,  can  not  go!  —  this  is 
almost  more  than  I  can  bear !  was  there  ever  suffer- 
ing like  our  suffering ! '  and  the  like  broken  expres- 
sions, were  continnally  falling  from  his  lips.  But  he 
soon  gathered  more  strength  of  purpose,  and,  after  the 
decision  was  fairly  made,  he  never  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment, rather  regarding  the  prospect  with  pleasure. 


OF   ADONIEAM   JIJDSON.  327 

I  think  the  struggle  which  this  resohition  cost,  in- 
jured him  very  materially;  though  probably  it  had 
no  share  in  bringing  about  the  final  result.  God, 
who  saw  the  end  from  the  beginning,  had  counted 
out  his  days,  and  they  were  hastening  to  a  close. 
Until  this  time,  he  had  been  able  to  stand,  and  to 
walk  slowly  from  room  to  room ;  but  as  he  one  even- 
ing attempted  to  rise  from  his  chair,  he  was  suddenly 
deprived  of  his  small  remnant  of  muscular  strength, 
and  would  have  fallen  to  the  floor,  but  for  timely 
support. 

''  From  that  moment  his  decline  was  rapid.  As  he 
lay  helplessly  on  his  couch,  and  watched  the  swelling 
of  his  feet,  and  other  alarming  symptoms,  he  became 
very  anxious  to  commence  his  voyage,  and  I  felt 
equally  anxious  to  have  his  wishes  gratified.  I  still 
hoped  he  might  recover — the  doctor  said  the  chances 
of  life  and  death  were,  in  his  opinion,  equally  bal- 
anced —  and  then  he  always  loved  the  sea  so  dearly ! 
There  was  somethins^  exhilaratino-  to  him  in  the  mo- 
tion  of  a  vessel,  and  he  spoke  with  animation  of  get- 
ting free  from  the  almost  suffocating  atmosphere 
incident  to  the  hot  season,  and  drinking  in  the  fresh 
sea  breezes.  He  talked  but  little  more,  however, 
than  was  necessary  to  indicate  his  wants,  his  bodily 
sufferings  being  too  great  to  allow  of  conversation ; 
but  several  times  he  looked  up  to  me  with  a  bright 
smile,  and  exclaimed,  as  heretofore,  '  O  the  love  of 
Christ !  the  love  of  Christ ! ' 

"  I  found  it  difficult  to  ascertain,  from  expressions 
casually  dropped,  from  time  to  time,  his  real  opinion 


828  THE  MISSIONARY  LABORS 

with  regard  to  his  recovery ;  but  I  thought  there  was 
some  reason  to  doubt  whether  he  was  fully  aware  of 
his  critical  situation.  I  did  not  suppose  he  had  any 
preparation  to  make  at  this  late  hour,  and  I  felt  sure 
that  if  he  should  be  called  ever  so  unexpectedly,  he 
would  not  enter  the  presence  of  his  Maker  with  a 
ruffled  spirit ;  but  I  could  not  bear  to  have  him  go 
away,  without  knowing  how  doubtful  it  was  whether 
our  next  meeting  would  not  be  in  eternity ;  and  per- 
perhaps  too,  in  my  own  distress,  1  might  still  have 
looked  for  words  of  encouragement  and  sympathy, 
to  a  source  which  had  never  before  failed. 

"  It  was  late  in  the  night,  and  I  had  been  perform- 
ing some  little  sick-room  offices,  when  suddenly  he 
looked  up  to  me,  and  exclaimed, '  This  will  never  do ! 
You  are  killing  yourself  for  me,  and  I  will  not  per- 
mit it.  You  must  have  some  one  to  relieve  you.  If 
I  had  not  been  made  selfish  by  suffering,  I  should 
have  insisted  upon  it  long  ago.' 

"He  spoke  so  like  himself — with  the  earnestness 
of  health,  and  in  a  tone  to  which  my  ear  had  of  late 
been  a  stranger,  that,  for  a  moment,  I  felt  almost 
bewildered  with  sudden  hope.  He  received  my 
reply  to  what  he  had  said,  with  a  half-pitying,  half- 
gratified  smile ;  but  in  the  meantime  his  expression 
had  changed — the  marks  of  excessive  debility  were 
again  apparent,  and  I  could  not  forbear  adding,  '  It 
is  only  a  little  while,  you  know.' 

"'Only  a  little  while,'  he  repeated  mournfully; 
'this  separation  is  a  bitter  thing,  but  it  does  not  dis- 
tress me  now  as  it  did  —  I  am  too  weak.'     'You 


OF   ADONTRAil   JTDSON.  329 

have  no  reason  to  be  distressed,'  I  answered,  '  with 
such  glorious  prospects  before  you.  You  have  often 
told  me  it  is  the  one  left  alone  who  suffers,  not  the 
one  who  goes  to  be  with  Christ.'  He  gave  me  a 
rapid,  questioning  glance,  then  assumed,  for  several 
moments,  an  attitude  of  deep  thought.  Finally,  he 
slowly  unclosed  his  eyes,  and,  fixing  them  on  me, 
said,  in  a  calm,  earnest  tone,  '  I  do  not  believe  I  am 
going  to  die.  I  think  I  know  why  this  illness  has 
been  sent  upon  me — I  needed  it  —  I  feel  that  it  has 
done  me  good  —  and  it  is  my  impression,  that  I  shall 
now  recover,  and  be  a  better  and  more  useful  man.' 

'  Then  it  is  your  wish  to  recover  ? '  I  inquired.  '  If 
it  should  be  the  will  of  God,  yes.  I  should  like  to 
complete  the  dictionary,  on  which  I  have  bestowed 
80  much  labor,  now  that  it  is  so  nearly  done ;  for, 
though  it  has  not  been  a  work  that  pleased  my  taste, 
or  quite  satisfied  my  feelings,  I  have  never  under- 
rated its  importance.  Then,  after  that,  come  all  the 
plans  that  we  have  formed.  O,  I  feel  as  though 
only  just  beginning  to  be  prepared  for  usefulness.' 

" '  It  is  the  opinion  of  most  of  the  mission,'  I  re- 
marked, '  that  you  will  not  recover.'  '  I  know  it  is,' 
he  replied ;  '  and  I  suppose  they  think  me  an  old 
man,  and  imagine  it  is  nothing  for  one  like  me  to 
resign  a  life  so  full  of  trials.  But  I  am  not  old — at 
least  in  that  sense — you  know  I  am  not.  Oh!  no 
man  ever  left  this  world,  with  more  inviting  pros- 
pects, with  brighter  hopes  or  warmer  feelings  — 
warmer  feelings,' — he  repeated,  and  burst  into  tears. 
His  face  was  perfectly  placid  even  while  the  tears 


330  THE   MISSIONARY    LABORS 

broke  away  from  the  closed  lids,  and  rolled,  one  after 
another,  down  to  the  pillow.  There  was  no  trace  of 
agitation  or  pain  in  his  manner  of  weeping ;  but  it 
was  evidently  the  result  of  acute  sensibilities,  com- 
bined with  great  physical  weakness.  To  some  sug- 
gestions which  I  ventured  to  make,  he  replied,  '  It  is 
not  that  —  I  know  all  that,  and  I  feel  it  in  my  inmost 
heart.  Lying  here,  on  my  bed,  when  I  could  not 
talk,  I  have  had  such  views  of  the  loving  condescen- 
sion of  Christ,  and  the  glories  of  heaven,  as  I  believe 
are  seldom  granted  to  mortal  man.  It  is  not  because 
I  shrink  from  death,  that  I  wish  to  live ;  neither  is  it 
because  the  ties  that  bind  me  here,  though  some  of 
them  are  very  sweet,  bear  any  comparison  with  the 
drawings  I  at  times  feel  toward  Heaven  ;  but  a  few 
years  would  not  be  missed  from  my  eternity  of  bliss, 
and  I  can  well  afford  to  spare  them,  both  for  your 
sake  and  for  the  sake  of  the  poor  Burmans ; — I  am  not 
tired  of  my  work,  neithei"  am  I  tired  of  the  world ; 
yet,  when  Christ  calls  me  Lome,  I  shall  go  with  the 
gladness  of  a  boy  bounding  away  from  his  school. 
Perhaps  I  feel  something  like  the  young  bride,  when 
she  contemplates  resigning  the  pleasant  associations 
of  her  childhood,  for  a  yet  dearer  home  —  though 
only  a  very  little  like  her  —  for  tliere  is  no  doubt 
resting  on  my  fuUire^  'Then  death  would  not  take 
you  by  surprise,'  I  remarked, '  if  it  should  come  even 
before  you  could  get  on  board  ship  ? '  'Oh,  no,'  he 
said,  'death  will  never  take  me  by  surprise  —  do  not 
be  afraid  of  that  —  I  feel  so  strong  in  Christ.  He 
has  not  led  me  so  tenderly  thus  far,  to  forsake  me 


OF   ADONIKAM   JUDSON.  331 

at  the  very  gate  of  heaven.  I^o,  no  ;  I  am  willing 
to  live  a  few  years  longer,  if  it  should  be  so  ordered, 
and  if  otherwise,  I  am  willing  and  glad  to  die  now. 
I  leave  myself  entirely  in  the  hands  of  God,  to  be 
disjDOsed  of  according  to  his  holy  will.' 

"  The  next  day,  some  one  mentioned  in  his  pres- 
ence, that  the  native  christians  were  greatly  opposed 
to  the  voyage,  and  that  many  other  persons  had  a 
similar  feeling  with  regard  to  it.  I  thought  he 
seemed  troubled,  and,  after  the  visitor  had  with- 
drawn, I  inquired  if  he  still  felt  as  when  he  con- 
versed with  me  the  night  previous.  He  replied,  'O 
yes ;  that  was  no  evanescent  feeling.  It  has  been 
with  me,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  for  years,  and 
will  be  with  me,  I  trust,  to  the  end.  I  am  ready  to 
go  to-day  —  if  it  should  be  the  will  of  God,  this  very 
hour  ;  but  I  am  not  anxious  to  die  —  at  least,  when 
I  am  not  beside  myself  with  pain.' 

"  'Then  why  are  you  so  desirous  to  go  to  sea;  I 
should  think  it  would  be  a  matter  of  indifference  to 
you?'  '1^0,' he  answered  quietly,  'my  judgment 
tells  me  it  would  be  wrong  not  to  go  —  the  doctor 
says  criTifiinal.  I  shall  certainly  die  here — if  I  go 
away,  I  may  possibly  recover.  There  is  no  question 
with  regard  to  duty  in  such  a  case ;  and  I  do  not 
like  to  see  any  hesitation,  even  though  it  springs 
from  affection.' " 

These  remarks  were  made  with  reference  to  a 
second  voyage,  which  had  now  been  decided  on.  He 
vras  to  visit  the  Isle  of  Boui'bon,  and  for  that  purpose, 


332  THE  MISSIONAUY  LABORS 

being  unable  to  walk  or  stand,  a  palanquin  and 
bearers  took  him  on  board  the  French  barque  Aris- 
tide  Marie,  on  the  3d  of  April.  Arrangements  had 
been  made  for  the  steamer  Proserpine,  then  employed 
as  a  military  transport,  and  bound  southward  that 
morning  with  troops,  to  tow  the  barque  out  of  the 
river ;  but  owing  to  some  misunderstanding  between 
the  commissioner  of  the  provinces  and  the  com- 
mander of  the  steamer,  the  latter  craft  was  not 
allowed  to  perform  the  stipulated  service.  The  result 
was,  that  the  barque  was  five  days  in  reaching  Am- 
herst, and  another  day  passed  before  the  pilot  left 
her.  It  is  probable  this  delay  in  getting  to  sea  was 
deleterious  in  its  influence  on  Mr.  Judson. 

Mrs.  Judson,  as  well  as  two  or  three  other  mis- 
sionaries, was  with  him  more  or  less  while  passing 
down  the  river ;  and  it  was  during  those  visits  that 
a  part  of  the  conversation,  which  her  pen  has  trea- 
sured, and  which  is  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages, 
occurred.  She  was  very  anxious  to  accompany  her 
husband — though  it  would  have  jeoparded  her  own 
life  —  but  in  compliance  with  his  urgent  request,  she 
finally,  on  the  fifth  day  after  he  went  on  board  the., 
vessel,  took  leave  of  him,  to  see  his  face  no  more  on 
earth.* 


*  Mrs.  Judson  has  been  an  invalid  for  years ;  and,  being  unfitted 
for  the  hardships  of  missionary  life,  it  was  Mr.  Judson's  particular 
request,  that  in  case  he  should  die  first,  she  should  return  with  me 
children  to  this  country.  She  sailed  from  Maulraain,  for  Calcutta, 
January  22d  ;  and  at  this  date,  August  1st  1851,  her  arrival  is  looked 
for  daily. 


OF   ADONERAM    JITDSON.  333 

However  alarming  the  apprehensions  of  his  friends, 
it  was  Mr.  Jiidson's  opinion  that  he  should  return 
from  the  voyage ;  and  when  the  native  assistants, 
two  of  whom,  with  a  member  of  the  Amherst  church, 
remained  on  board  as  long  as  the  pilot,  became 
alarmed  on  account  of  the  swelling  of  his  feet,  and 
begged  that  he  might  be  taken  back  to  Maulmain,  he 
observed  to  Mr.  Ranney,  who  accompanied  him  to 
sea,  that  they  were  frightened  when  they  saw  the 
condition  of  his  limbs.  "  They  regard  it,"  said  he, 
"as  a  sure  sign  of  approaching  death;  but  I  do  not. 
I  have  talked  with  the  doctor  about  this,  and  have 
remarked,  at  different  times,  the  swelling  and  sub- 
siding. I  still  feel  that  there  is  so  much  of  life  in 
me  that  I  shall  recover."  When  the  pilot  and  native 
disciples  left  the  ship,  Mr.  Eanney  wrote  to  Mrs. 
Judson,  at  Mr.  Judson's  request,  saying,  as  his  opin- 
ion of  himself,  that,  "  he  went  out  to  sea  with  a  strong 
feeling  that  he  should  recover." 

During  the  first  two  or  three  days  of  the  voyage, 
he  endured  great  pain  at  times,  and  was  troubled 
very  much  with  vomiting  and  a  hiccough,  the  last  of 
which  ailments,  he  said,  was  killing  him.  About 
the  third  day,  the  captain  administered  medichie 
several  times,  without  effect,  which  drew  from  Mr. 
Judson  the  remark :  "  It  is  of  but  little  consequence. 
I  do  not  wish  any  one  to  think  that  I  die  because  all 
was  not  done  that  could  be  for  me.  The  disease  will 
take  its  course." 

Immediately  preceding  his  spells  of  vomiting,  he 
was  seized  with  pain,  which  was  bo  severe  that  it 


334  THE   MISSIONARY   LABORS 

seemed  almost  insupportable ;  and  while  thus  suffer- 
ing, on  one  occasion,  he  said :  "  Oh,  that  I  could  die 
at  once,  and  go  directly  to  paradise,  where  there  is 
no  j)ain ! " 

At  another  time,  while  conversing  with  Mr.  Han- 
ney ,  on  expressing  his  gratitude  to  God  that  he  had  a 
christian  friend  on  board,  Mr.  R.  remarked  that  he 
hoped  Christ  was  near,  to  sustain  him ;  to  which  he 
replied,  "  O  yes  !  it  is  all  right  there  !  I  believe  he 
gives  me  just  so  much  pain  and  suffering  as  is  neces- 
sary to  fit  me  to  die, — to  make  me  submissive  to 
his  will." 

On  the  morning  of  the  11th,  the  day  before  his 
death,  his  eyes  became  dull  and  glassy,  and  remained 
half  open  while  sleeping.  Before  noon,  he  took  two 
doses  of  ether,  which  seemed  to  partially  relieve 
him.  About  this  time,  after  vomiting,  which  had 
been  heralded  by  the  acutest  pain,  he  said,  "  Oh,  how 
few  there  are  who  suffer  such  great  torment  —  who 
die  so  hard ! " 

For  a  day  and  a  half  immediately  preceding  his 
death,  his  agonies  were  almost  incessant,  and  terri- 
ble. About  noon,  on  the  12th,  Mr.  Ranney  discovered 
a  transient  aberration  of  mind.  "  At  three  o'clock, 
he  said,  in  Burmese,  to  Pinapah,  a  native  servant, '  It 
%  done,  I  am  going.'  Shortly  after  he  made  a  sign 
with  his  hand  downward,  which  was  not  understood. 
Drawing  Mr.  Eanney's  ear  close  to  his  mouth,  ho 
said,  convulsively,  'Brother  Ranney,  w-ill  you  bury 
me!  bury  me!  —  quick!  quick!'  These  w^ords 
were  prompted,  perhaps,  by  the  thought  of  burial  in 


OF   ADOXIEAM   JUDSOX.  335 

the  sea  crossing  his  mind.  Mr.  Rannej  here  being 
called  out  for  a  moment,  Mr.  Judson  spoke  to  the 
Bervant  in  English  and  also  in  Burmese,  of  Mrs. 
Judson,  bidding  him  '  take  care  of  poor  mistress,' 
and  at  fifteen  minutes  past  four  o'clock  he  breathed 
his  last." 

During  the  last  few  moments  of  his  life,  his  mus- 
cles denoted  no  pain,  and  the  placidity  of  the  sunny 
land  to  which  his  soul  was  fleeing,  rested  on  his 
face.  "  The  moment  of  the  going  out  of  life,"  writes 
Mr.  Rannej,  "  was  indicated  only  by  his  ceasing  to 
breathe.  A  gentle  pressure  of  the  hand,  growing 
more  and  more  feeble  as  life  waned,  showed  the 
peacefulness  of  the  spirit  about  to  take  its  homeward 
flight." 

Such  was  the  end  of  this  great  ana  good  man,  who 
lived  the  life  of  faith.  His  transition  to  the  clear  sky 
above,  was  as  glorious  as  his  career  on  the  clouded 
earth  was  sublime  — 

"  He  sets. 
As  sets  the  morning  star,  which  goes  not  down 
Behind  the  darkened  west,  nor  hides  obscured 
Among  the  tempests  of  the  sky  —  but  melts  away 
Into  the  hght  of  heaven." 

At  first,  it  was  thought  that  the  burial  might  be 
deferred  until  the  next  day,  but  necessity  required 
that  it  should  take  place  that  night.  Accordingly, 
the  body  was  placed  in  a  strong  plank  cofiin,  con- 
taining sufiicient  sand  to  make  it  sink,  and  in  three 
hours  and  a  half  after  Mr.  Eanney  had  closed  his 
sightless  eyes,  in  latitude  thirteen  degi'ees  north,  and 


336  MISSIONARY   LABORS. 

longitude  ninety-three  degrees  east,  all  that  remained 
of  the  father  of  American  Baptist  Missions,  glided 
in  silence  from  the  larboard  port,  and  found  its  rest 
beneath  those  billows,  whose  solemn  anthem  is  a 
fitting  requiem  for  the  Christian  warrior. 

The  captain  of  the  American  band,  who  are  storm- 
ing the  battlements  of  Burman  idolatry,  has  fallen ; 
but  let  not  his  name  be  stricken  from  the  lists.  As 
the  comrades  of  "  the  warrior  of  Breton  birth,  La  Tour 
d'Auvergne,  the  first  grenadier  of  France,  as  he  was 
called,"  ^'  insisted  that,  though  dead,  his  name  should 
not  be  erased,  and  one  of  the  survivors  regularly  an- 
swered for  the  departed  hero,  "  Dead  on  the  field ; " 
so  should  it  be  with  the  name  of  Adoniram  Jud- 
son.  He  lies  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  choice,  only 
three  days'  sail  from  sight  of  the  mountains  of  his 
adopted  country ;  and  as  his  field  was  emphatically 
the  world,  and  his  monument,  as  it  has  been  called, 
is  the  great  deep,  whose  "  drifting  currents  "  wash 
the  shores  of  every  land ;  so,  in  every  stronghold  of 
paganism,  where  the  soldiers  of  the  cross  rally,  let 
his  name  stand  on  the  roll-call  of  the  departed,  and 
thus,  though  dead,  he  will  yet  speak,  and  "  Judson  " 
serve,  until  the  redemption  of  our  fallen  race,  as  a 
"watchword  for  decision  of  character,  singleness  and 
sublimity  of  purpose,  perseverance  amid  Alpine  ob- 
structions, implicit  trust  in  God,  and  courageous 
firmness  in  the  Thermopylses  of  Truth. 


•  Williams'  Religious  Progresev  page  48. 


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